Stearns County Commissioners Approve Addition of Firing Range to Justice Center at Monday’s Meeting

(KNSI) – The Stearns County Board of Commissioners approved a contract for a new firing range to be installed at the justice center when it is completed in 2028.

The move was part of the consent agenda at Monday’s meeting. The sheriff’s office has used a range at the law enforcement center, and there is no intention to keep using that after the shift to the new building. Administrator Mike Williams says the condition of the current range makes it impossible. “The firing range we use now, we can’t get parts for any of the main components anymore, and part of it isn’t even usable anymore. [The new range,] it’s a replacement, but it will also be an upgrade.”

Williams notes that the measure had to be passed now so that the architect could incorporate the equipment specs into the design of the justice center. It will be eight lanes and 50 meters long, costing $844,698.

Outside of the consent agenda, there were only two items of note. Stearns County celebrated engineer Jodi Teich after she recently won a prestigious award. Teich was named the National Association of County Engineers Urban County Engineer of the Year Award. Williams says there were special guests in attendance for the recognition.

“We had the secretary treasurer from the National Association of County Engineers, and we had the president of the Minnesota Association of County Engineers present at our meeting to present the award.”

The final issue for the Board of Commissioners was appointing two members to the canvassing board for the special election in District 4. Early voting will begin next month with the primary in August.

___