Eau Claire County is taking its second shot at finding a home for a public shooting range.

On Nov. 13 the Parks and Forest Committee will tour two sites in central Eau Claire County to assess their suitability for a new range.

"Those are the only two options I've got," said Supervisor Pat LaVelle, the committee chairman.

John Staszcuk, Parks and Forest Department director; attorneys for the county; a National Rifle Association representative; and Supervisor Paul Lokken Sr., Parks and Forest Committee vice chairman, previously toured five sites and decided that these two appeared the most feasible.

Both are on land already owned by the county and were favored because they are near the center of the county, making it convenient for most residents to access.

The first site is south of Seven Mile Creek Landfill off Highway QQ in the town of Seymour.

It's in county forest land about a half mile northeast of L.E. Phillips County Park, and it has a high bank behind it, Staszcuk said. It's undeveloped except for a trail running through it.

The other site is north of Fall Creek on Kopplin Road; it's currently a pistol site used by the Sheriff's Department. LaVelle said he's concerned there wouldn't be enough public shooting hours at this location because the sheriff also allows other law enforcement agencies to use it for practice.

"They let a lot of people shoot there," LaVelle said.

Challenges at both sites have LaVelle and Staszcuk saying the $50,000 provided by the state Legislature for the range might not be enough funding.

The Highway QQ site would need some tree clearing and creation of a formal parking lot, but it's natural topography has a large ridge that would work as a backstop for bullets. Meanwhile, the sheriff's range already is developed, but LaVelle said it might need a bigger backstop, which would require moving some earth to build up a berm.

To complete a new range, LaVelle said, the county might seek a grant from the NRA, which has some money available for establishing ranges.

The new range likely would have rifle and pistol shooting lanes, LaVelle said, but probably not an area for trapshooting because of the mess from broken clay pigeons and shotgun shell casings.

After the upcoming tour, LaVelle said, the committee still would need to make a decision, hold a public hearing and get approval from the County Board.

"I'd like to have it done next year," he said.

Following the county's decision, Staszcuk said, a site plan would need to be drafted and an application sent to the state.

The county has until the end of June 2012 to have the project finished to get the $50,000 in state funding through the Department of Natural Resources, Staszcuk said.

The county is looking at alternative sites because its previous choice of converting an informal shooting area into an official range has been embroiled in a lawsuit for more than two years.

Bert Moritz and several others living near Big Falls County Park filed a lawsuit in July 2007 against the county because of shooting at the park. The suit claims that noise from gunshots and the potential of stray shots impedes their ability to enjoy their property.

The lawsuit is still pending, but LaVelle said the county and Moritz are working on a settlement.

Dowd can be reached at 833-9204, 800-236-7077 or andrew.dowd@ecpc.com.