The Ashland City Council voted on Tuesday night to buy 12 rural acres contaminated with lead from years of Ashland Gun Club shooting.I wish I had a dollar for every time one of the gun-rights fanatics told us the lead from bullets is not problem.
The city of Ashland will pay $67,500 and trade 3.8 acres of city-owned land off of Emigrant Creek Road in exchange for the contaminated land.
The city will also pay an estimated $10,500 to cover costs that include surveying and Jackson County planning fees.
Environmental testing revealed that lead from shotgun pellets had contaminated the majority of 12 rural acres owned by gun club neighbor James Miller.
Shotgun pellets can travel 750 feet, but Miller's property line is located just 300 feet from the firing line, according to a city staff memo to councilors.
The gun club has switched to steel shot.
Final cleanup costs could run close to $1 million under a worst-case scenario, according to past estimates.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
