Few pleased by change to town shooting ordinance

After nearly three years of discussion, the Grafton Town Board last week amended a firearms ordinance to restrict shooting in the town, but some residents fear the change isn’t clear enough.

The new ordinance seeks to limit the time and duration of recreational shooting and hunting so it won’t interfere with “other residents’ reasonable use and enjoyment of their property,” but doesn’t specify how many rounds can be fired or for how long.

 It also holds landowners responsible for any shooting on their property. Severe incidents of excessive shooting could result in a permanent ban on shooting on a landowner’s property.

The amended ordinance exempts firing air rifles up to .22 caliber.

 More than 30 people attended the Wednesday, Jan. 15, board meeting, with about a dozen residents speaking during the open-comments portion that lasted an hour before the board took action.

“Not everyone is going to be happy,” Town Chairman Lester Bartel said. “It’s been a long, drawn-out process, and we took everything into account.”

The vast majority of residents who spoke said they opposed any changes to the ordinance, which was established in 1985.

“The ordinance has worked for 35 years,” resident Jack Curtis told the board.

Resident Laura McKinnis said her daughters are fearful when they come across hunters near their property.

“I’m in the distinct minority here. I’m never going to approach a man holding a gun,” she said.

Bartel said the ordinance is not intended to regulate or interfere with legal hunting activity as permitted under the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules, seasons and ordinances.

“The people that have always caused the issues have not been hunters,” Bartel said. “The issues have been with people who buy high-powered rifles and want to shoot them, and the sound can travel for miles.”

An eight-person citizens committee was formed in May to address the concerns of residents, and it held several meetings. The committee proposed limiting shooting to no more than 20 rounds in a 24-hour period and suggested a $100 fine for first-time offenders and $500 for subsequent offenses.

 However, most board members found those restrictions too severe and the fines too steep.

The board approved the amended ordinance, 3-2, with supervisors Karron Stockwell and Tom Grabow dissenting.

Stockwell said she voted against the ordinance because it did not take into account the feedback of the citizens committee.

“I’m really disappointed for what was proposed. The citizens committee was disregarded,” Stockwell said. “I don’t think it’s doing anything to further enhance the safety of Grafton. We should go back to the drawing board.”

Grabow said he didn’t find any problems with the original ordinance.

“I’ve been against this (amended ordinance) from the beginning,” he said.

Residents asked how the new policy will be enforced.

“I couldn’t answer that,” Bartel said.

 In past discussions, the board suggested hiring a constable, a move that would cost the town about $50,000, but the position is not included in the 2020 budget.

“We haven’t had a serious complaint in a long time,” Bartel said. “We have to move on, monitor it and react accordingly. People need to have respect and tolerance for each other. We’ll probably have to amend this again.”