The Madison County Commissioners called together a special meeting on Thursday, May 5 to negotiate a disagreement between two landowners in Madison County.
Gary Dorris and Steven Williams both own property in northeast Madison County.
Dorris moved to the county with his family and is currently building a residence for his son’s family.
His neighbor, Williams, had leased out the use of his own land to Moody Air Force Base to allow active, on duty airmen a place to practice their marksmanship.
The area of disagreement arose as Dorris feared for the safety of his grandchildren and was not pleased with the noise that was made by the training exercises.
During their meeting, the commissioners opened the podium to a varied assortment of citizen opinion, with Dorris, Williams and other neighbors and family members coming forward to provide their opinions and insight on the training facility.
Williams was called to the podium to speak regarding his position. Accompanying Williams was Attorney Cary Hardee and a representative of Robert Mott, who owned the company that the airmen were being trained under. The representative came in Mott’s place and asked that his name be omitted.
Hardee spoke regarding Williams’ lack of understanding that the operation of a tactical firing range must be permitted. A firing or shooting range often falls under the category of outdoor recreation, which does not always require permitting.
Williams also believed that because the property belonged to him and since the firing range had been inspected and given an approval of safety by Moody authorities, the firing range was not posing a danger to anyone. Williams believed that he had the right to allow his land to be used to train the recruits. Hardee also provided a map of the land area that Williams owned, that Dorris owned and where the range was located.
“This is not just some [dirt pile] that they dug up,” said Hardee. “[The firing range] is certified by the air force.”
One of Dorris’ initial complaints regarded the bullets that the recruits are using; he feared that the lead bullets would cause water and ground contamination.
Hardee and Mott’s representative tried their best to lay those concerns to rest. “This organization has absolutely nothing to do with lead bullets,” assured Hardee, insisting that leadless ammo is used by the air force.
Mott’s representative came forward to present information regarding the training that is being done on the property. No more than 12 men and no less than six men are being trained during a course that takes place during a 90-day period, however, of those 90 days, only 10 days of the training takes place on Williams’ land.
The training is not tactical, as tactical implies storming buildings and combat simulations. Instead marksmanship training that is being taught. Dorris had complained regarding the hours that the airmen trained.
“We try to keep [our training] days Monday through Friday,” said Mott’s representative. “Recently, we did have to shoot on a Sunday.” Of the 10 days spent on Williams’ property, only two of those days require the airmen to shoot during a period of darkness in order to fulfill the qualifications needed for the course. Even then, Mott’s representative assured the commissioners that they try to be mindful of the other landowners around Williams’ property and shoot in the morning hours, from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. for the nighttime shooting. “We don’t want to have to wait until 10 in the evening to start training,” said Mott’s representative.
Finishing up their period of discussion, Hardee asked the county commissioners to amend the code so that the range would be allowed and, secondly, to not push for code enforcement for Williams’ actions prior to the code amendment.
Next to speak was Dorris himself, who came to the podium with his own set of opinions about the safety issues the property presented.
Dorris is a former assistant attorney, former police officer and a veteran.
On the 130 acres he owns, adjacent to Williams’ property, he is building a home for his son, Chris Dorris, Chris’ significant other and their children.
“I would not [have] bought my property if I knew there was someone shooting next door,” said Dorris before requesting that the commissioners to not make any zoning changes, but shut down the training operation that he claimed was a nuisance to everyone around the property, despite the fact that no other neighbor came forward to agree with that statement. “No one likes that noise,” said Dorris.
Dorris asked the commissioners to at least not allow the training for a year so that he could sell his property.
Aside from the noise complaints, he also spoke regarding his concerns for the safety of his grandchildren. “If one or two or three of [the airmen] ever make a mistake, [the bullet] comes right over on to my land, where [my grandchildren] are playing.”
Dorris insisted that the noise was a nuisance and spoke on his doubts that the air force had approved the range.
The property is close in proximity to a parcel of land that is a part of the Suwannee River Water Management District and Dorris expressed his opinions that the bullets, lead or not, would be harmful to the water resources of Madison County.
Another neighbor of Dorris and Williams addressed these concerns when he came to the podium. The lay of the land naturally protected bullet shells from flowing into the management area and the neighbor insisted that the bullets were harmless to the wetlands that were near the property.
The meeting was heated, with subject matters such as constitutional rights, property permits and more being discussed.
Mack Primm of the Planning and Zoning Committee came forward and addressed the matter of Williams not properly permitting his range for use of being lent to the air force. Even though the mistake was made without the knowledge that it was required, Williams could not escape the fact that his range was not permitted, as it should be.
A tough decision was facing the county commissioners, but the need for a vote was drawing near.
Before they made their call, however, Williams asked to speak again, this time for himself.
Williams provided information about the safety and construction of the range before addressing a matter of his own; he never meant to cause harm by building his range and allowing the air force to train there.
“I’m a gulf war veteran,” said Williams. “[But] I hadn’t done anything for my country in 25 years.”
Emotion filled Williams’ voice as he continued, “I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do that. I apologize if I have done anything punishable.”
A few other neighbors and family members came forward to share their thoughts and opinions, but the county commissioners were ready to make a motion and decide how to handle the disagreement placed before them.
Both parties made well stated arguments and many of the points that Dorris voiced were valid, however, with a motion led by Ronnie Moore, the county commission voted unanimously to add another special exception usage to the ordinance that would handle firing ranges and tactical training facilities.
With that vote being cast, Williams was instructed to go through the Planning and Zoning Committee to begin properly permitting his range.
Much to Dorris’ chagrin, the commission also agreed to not enact any code enforcement on Williams for the prior operation of his range.
Mixed feelings were felt by the audience following the end of the meeting; Williams’ family received a breath of relief, but the Dorris family was far from pleased.
“[If changes are not made], we cannot live here,” said Dorris during the meeting.
The matter of Williams’ range will be seen again in future county commission meetings, as the amendment of the ordinance and the involvement with the Planning and Zoning Committee will be ongoing until completion.