My opinions/assumptions

• Commissioner Stevenson knew Commissioner Elliott would not be seeking another term on the Commission.
• Having Commissioner Elliot handle the range closure allowed the other Commissioners to avoid negative political ramifications, this seems a little amiss. Especially when Commissioner Stevenson is now in control of the future of the range.
• The Davis County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) must not have understood their relationship with the WSA and the 40+ years of a beneficial and cordial goodwill that served the public well.
• The WSA contract audit was likely precipitated by Law Enforcement (LE); perhaps the DCSO.
• The WSA Board perceived the audit as hostile with untenable demands. I was a WSA RO for 32 years, during this time, I was not aware of the County doing this sort of thing. A reasonable person would have been taken aback by the county’s action. The public must remember ALL positions at the WSA are staffed by volunteers. 

Facts – based on evidence I have

• The WSA operated a safe and self-sustaining range for 40+ years.
• The WSA was more than a place to shoot, it was a place where many people came to associate with one another.
• The WSA range was a benefit to the public.
• The WSA range covered the cost of utilities (phone, electricity, propane, internet), garbage service, portable toilets, target stands, security system, first-aid supplies, and a web-based scheduling system. These were provided to LE at no charge, paid by public range fees.
• The WSA range was self-sustaining, requiring no tax dollars to operate.  
• The Davis County Commissioners were approached in late August to early September by several former WSA RO’s with a request to meet and discuss viable options to keep the range open on Saturdays.  
• The Davis County Commissioners were unwilling to meet. 
• The range closed at the beginning of peak range usage; hunters sighting-in their firearms. The Commissioners’ unwillingness to discuss even a short-term solution to cover this demand shows a certain detachment to the public’s needs.

This summary is based on my reading of the Final Audit Report. I strongly recommend all interested to read the final audit report.  

Paul Roubinet, 

Layton