August 11, 2010 Hays County Extension Bldg.

 Area residents within 1 mile of the Hillert Tract were invited to attend.  Stephen Marlow spoke to the group during the PowerPoint presentation. JB Kolodzey addressed the crowd during their questions and comments.

After the presentation Mr. Chris Tisdale of Spring River subdivision in Martindale, stated that the biggest problem residents have is the intoxicated people on the river who come onto people’s property.  They want security at the river park.  Habitat is important but at the bottom of the river is trash and they are concerned about the numbers of people who recreate on the river are devaluing their property. They have asked cities and TX Pks & Wildlife to come out to Spring River to help. He suggested to disassociate the shooting complex from the public park.

 Another neighbor said not to do the park on the river.  Drunks, trash, night parties are disturbing and they cannot even camp on their own river front property. They are harassed by homeless and drunks and want policing and trash collection on the river.

Tisdale said he was glad that this property and the range would not be paid for by tax dollars, but did not believe the $2 per person paid to the county by TXSSC would pay for policing. He wanted to know who would pay for that.

 Comments were made about ordinances San Marcos passed against having large parties on the river, so people moved down the river to Don’s Fish Camp, where binge drinking is encouraged. Sexual assaults and bomb threats have been made. 

 Mr. Jim Davis was concerned about the range and wanted to know about sound pollution. He can hear dove hunters 3 miles away. He wanted to know how habitat could be wrapped in when someone would be shooting every day.

 A former policeman asked about how sound travel varies and how far it travels. Marlow said they have a contract for a NRA survey to be done and will be sharing that info on the TXSSC website.

 Picking up lead was a concern by a non-resident rep. from Barton Springs Alliance.  When it rain, he said the first flush will go straight to the river and he wanted to know how the lead would be cleared. Another person said the well on the property is a shallow well and was concerned about lead as well.  Marlow explained how soil alkaline and lead work and about the berms that would be built to capture rounds. Shot found on the ground would be reclaimed and there would be catch basins for water. In Kerrville, the EPA rules are applied and can control lead by charging by the count of clays, then can track and harvest the lead. Clean up of lead is part of the TXSSC business plan and it is required to stay in compliance with the EPA.  There were other concerns about lead poisoning the water and how catch basins would work, whether lead would get washed out. Dr. Hotz said water can come up to his house when the river floods.

 Other comments/questions ---
• City and County do not have money for police
• Martindale could have an election to annex Spring River and another subdivision, on either side of Don’s, to annex them to city and shut it down
• Dr. Holtz has had people walk into his house, pass out in his yard
• A neighbor was physically assaulted and threatened to be killed
• All three counties (Hays, Guadalupe and Caldwell) need to impose no alcohol on the river
• Where would Ducks Unlimited get the water for the wetlands?
• Would motor boats be allowed on the wetlands?
• What time would range be open? (generally they are open late morning to dark)
• One resident was concerned about neighborhood development and wondered if  anyone would buy property around this (American Shooting Range in Houston was given as an example of existing range that had subdivisions developed all around it/National shooting range in San Antonio has a church across the street).
• Would there be a PA system? (Yes, there would need to be for competitions & etc.)
• What kind of arms would be used on the range (no cannon or automatic weapons)
• How would shooting enhance habitat (Camp Bullis research paper was given as reference)
• Biggest problem is opening up more access to river and how it is being used as a dump. The bottom is covered in silver from cans.
• Don’t pull water form the river for the wetlands
• Test the wells on the property before moving forward
• Residents have easements for utilities that they want preserved