Task force studies gun range, recommends noise ordinance

WASILLA — Ever-so-quietly over the past few months, Mayor Verne Rupright’s Task Force on Industrial Uses has been studying a proposed outdoor firing range near the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center and is recommending a noise control ordinance for the city.

At first glance, the two seem incompatible.

After all, why would Rupright, who promised voters three years ago he’d bring a firing range to Wasilla, ask seven Wasilla-area residents to push for an ordinance restricting noise within the city if such an ordinance would mean the death of such a facility?

“The city of Wasilla hereby finds and declares that noise, volume-enhanced sounds and their concomitant vibration are significant sources of environmental pollution which represents a present and increasing threat to public peace and to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city,” the ordinance begins. “Loud noise and amplified sounds have an adverse effect on the psychological and physiological well-being of persons.”

The ordinance’s declaration of intent also explains that its purpose is to “mitigate the effects of incompatible land uses” as outlined in the Wasilla Comprehensive Plan.

In the next three pages, the ordinance describes various sound sources and acceptable decibel levels and various restrictions to which residents and property owners must adhere to avoid an infraction.

That’s all well and good to Wasilla Councilwoman Taffina Katkus, a mayoral candidate who lives near the proposed firing range. She and other nearby residents had appealed the Wasilla Planning Commission’s previous approval of the firing range and won their case when it went before the city’s appeals hearing officer several months ago.

However, the case against the firing range remains unresolved as the city continues to look at options.

“A noise ordinance is a great idea, but if you look closer, it appears to be a backdoor way to getting the shooting range put in,” Katkus said Friday. “People should be aware of what the mayor is doing behind their backs.”

On the bottom on the third page of the proposed noise control ordinance, 13 sounds are listed as exempt to the restrictions “at all times.” The ninth one is “sounds created by the lawful discharge of firearms.”

Other exemptions include sounds originating from aircraft, emergency sirens, lawn care machines, fire alarms, natural phenomena or unamplified human voice, construction equipment, athletic events and the lawful use of power model vehicles.

Prohibited sounds include those coming from radios, televisions, speaker systems, amplified drums and amplified musical instruments if they rise above certain maximum permissible noise level limits listed in the ordinance.

Katkus said she’s puzzled why the mayor’s committee is called the Task Force on Industrial Uses when all its activities have been focused on one thing: the firing range.

“Minutes from their meetings show that all their efforts have been concentrated on the firing range and not industrial uses,” Katkus said. “The people on the task force have nothing to do with industrial development. It looks like most of them are trying to help the mayor get his gun range.”

Among those on the task force are Conrad Holler, Len Betts and Bill Bruu — all who have spoken publicly in support of the outdoor gun range in the past. Holler owned Rainbow Pawn and Betts serves on the Mat-Su Second Amendment Task Force.

Barbara and Eric Beckman, Carl Brent and Mike Kroner also serve on the Mayor’s Task Force on Industrial Uses.

Rupright could not be reached for comment Friday.

The Proposed Noise Control Ordinance will be considered by the Wasilla Planning Commission for the first time at its regular meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Wasilla City Council Chambers at city hall.

Monday night at 6 p.m., Wasilla City Council will hold a public hearing on an ordinance to repeal the 1996 City of Wasilla Comprehensive Plan as amended and adopt the 2011 Wasilla Comprehensive Plan, including the 1999 Trails Plan and the All Hazard Mitigation Plan Phase 1 by reference.

Action memorandums include renewing Big Dipper Construction’s contract of $311,244 for FY12 equipment rental services, awarding Bristol Construction a $777,193 contract for Wasilla Airport Apron D Phase 2, and awarding USKH a contract for $170,000 for engineering services for the same airport construction project.

Council also is set to approve the FY12 employee wage scales for union and non-union city employees, increasing pay between about 1.5 and 3.5 percent.

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.McKee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.