BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON — The Edenton-Chowan Partnership postponed a vote on finalizing the sale of a firing range at the Phase II Airport Industrial Park, off Soundside Drive, during its Oct. 9 meeting, as law enforcement officials balked at a requirement to give a week’s notice before using the facility’s long-range rifle course.

The delay extends a process that began nearly a year ago, when the partnership first considered selling the property to prospective buyer Ronald Hite, who plans to operate a commercial shooting facility that will be open seven days a week, according to the proposed agreement. While the partnership voted unanimously in April to approve the sale, finalizing lease terms for law enforcement access has proven contentious.

The primary sticking point: advance notification. While the proposed lease would give law enforcement unlimited access to a 25-yard range, access to longer rifle ranges would require a week’s notice to allow the operator to close them to other users during law enforcement training.

Sgt. White: Immediate Access Seldom Needed

Edenton Police Sgt. White, a firearms instructor speaking based on his experience, explained that law enforcement sometimes needs immediate access to qualify new officers for state certification.

Police Chief David LaFon and Sheriff Scooter Basnight were not in attendance, as they were tending to other matters.

“A lot of times with us, we don’t have a time frame to give because we hire somebody new, we qualify them to send their paperwork off to the state for their certification to come back and it can be, ‘Hey, can you go qualify this officer this afternoon?’ ” he said.

However, when pressed by board members, the sergeant acknowledged such urgent situations are uncommon. Officers typically qualify once annually, and departments usually can plan ahead.

Board members suggested compromise solutions, including exceptions to the notification requirement for emergencies or use of alternative ranges when immediate access is needed. The sergeant confirmed officers could contact other agencies with certified firearms instructors if necessary.

The Edenton police officers at the meeting suggested discussing the details of the agreement directly with LaFon and Basnight again before moving forward.

Details Unresolved

During the discussion, Industrial Park Committee Chair Joe Wach emphasized that the partnership followed proper procedures in vetting Hite’s proposal, which meets the organization’s charter for economic, cultural, educational and recreational growth.

Several board members noted that they appreciate the outstanding job that Edenton Police and the Chowan County Sheriff’s Office do. They noted that law enforcement access was the top priority among seven conditions identified when the proposal was first presented in February.

Wach expressed frustration with the extended timeline, noting that representatives from law enforcement and local government had attended multiple meetings since February but hadn’t formally raised detailed concerns until August.

“There were full 60 days from February to April to address any concerns from any stakeholders before we made the vote to actually sell the property,” he said.

Liability and Process Concerns

Wach emphasized that the partnership currently has no written agreements with law enforcement agencies using the facility, leaving the partnership, town and county exposed to liability.

“We are exposed. As a partnership, we’re exposed for liability of what takes place there. Town Council, you’re exposed because your police department does not have a written agreement for a firing range,” Wach said.

Chairman John Dowd revealed that LaFon called him before the meeting to request the sale not proceed and that law enforcement be deeded the property instead.

The chairman expressed frustration with the repeated delays: “I’ve reached out at least six times to them and sat down with them to get this thing settled months ago. So, you know, I’m pretty frustrated with the whole process.”

Community Impact Questions

Board member Patti Kersey raised concerns about community notification, noting that nearby residents don’t know about the planned commercial operation, which would significantly increase activity at the site.

The proposed operating hours show Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended evening hours until 10 p.m. twice monthly. These hours expanded from an earlier proposal that didn’t include Sunday operations.

“We’re going to go from something that was very sporadic, having law enforcement, to a seven-day-a-week operation,” Kersey said, requesting a public information session before finalizing any agreement.

Board member Michelle Lewis noted that the hours had changed significantly from the original proposal, which limited public hours to Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer months.

Hite previously agreed to hold a public meeting, and the partnership discussed hosting it at the county’s public safety building on West Freemason Street, Edenton. The developer also plans noise mitigation measures, such as concrete walls and suppressors for nighttime shooting.

Alternative Sites Discussed

Chowan County Manager Kevin Howard suggested a potential alternative long-term location for a law enforcement range on approximately 30 acres the county owns on Haughton Road for a future water plant.

“Long term for us, that’s a better location for a firearms training for law enforcement than where they’re at right now in the middle of (the development near the airport) to hopefully one day be a full industrial park or commerce park,” he said.

Howard noted that he mentioned the possibility during a conversation with Sheriff Basnight, and nothing has been formalized.

Next Steps

The partnership scheduled another meeting before its next regular session on Nov. 13, bringing together law enforcement leaders, members of the executive committee, the airport committee and Hite to resolve remaining issues.

“We’re going to hash all these things out and we’re going to come back at the next meeting and vote on this thing,” Dowd said, setting a 30-day timeline for resolution.

Part of the sale agreement says that the law enforcement agencies must sign off on the proposal. The group must either finalize a acceptable deal, vote to rescind the approval of the April sale, or proceed despite objections. Any conditions would need to be recorded in the property deed since the partnership would lose control after the sale. The lease agreement, which is $1 per year, will also be voted on.

Recreation Committee Proposed

In other business, Bob Turner proposed creating a new committee called “Bridging Edenton-Chowan Recreation” to coordinate recreational development efforts and prevent competing private organizations from forming.

Turner said a group of residents disappointed by a failed recreation referendum is considering forming a private recreation organization, which he argued would be less effective than a public-sector coordinated effort.

“We can do some things with a partnership that the county can’t do and the town can’t do with money being brought in by large groups, money being brought in by private sectors, money being brought in by donations,” Turner said.

The partnership agreed to invite interested community members to discuss the recreation committee proposal at the Nov. 13 meeting.

Turner also noted that Mulberry Hill Golf Course faces potential closure at month’s end if its lease isn’t renewed, though no action was taken on that issue.

The board also appointed Travis Gilliard to its executive committee. He replaces Roland Vaughan, former mayor of Edenton who recently moved out of the county.

The partnership also approved spending up to $1,300 for a one-time mowing of approximately 12 acres at the industrial park ahead of a November 6 ribbon cutting for Focus Broadband.