THORNTON — Plans for a multimillion-dollar regional police shooting range and training facility have gotten caught in a budgetary crossfire.
Thornton last week rescinded its agreement to commit almost $100,000 to cover startup costs and first-year usage for the Flatrock Regional Training Facility, a 399-acre complex slated for Gun Club Road and East 128th Avenue.
Thornton police said they could no longer wait for Adams County to build the facility, which would serve north-metro police forces.
“Obviously, a jurisdiction the size of Thornton pulling out is not a good thing,” said Adams County sheriff’s spokesman Terrance O’Neill.
“But we still have multiple agencies just waiting for the final release of the funding to get that plan back on track,” O’Neill said.
The county paid $4 million for the land for the facility in 2007. The cost of the first phase of its construction could go as high as $15 million.
The Adams County Commission, however, has not signed off on the facility, citing a tough economy and a lack of state and federal funding.
A city memo given to the Thornton City Council last week said Adams County “terminated” the project in 2011 and notified several local police agencies that it was not going forward with its construction.
But Adams County’s O’Neill said Friday that Flatrock is viable but in need of funding. “We’re just waiting on the commissioners to release those funds,” O’Neill said.
Thornton was one of the facility’s largest funding partners, O’Neill said. Others include Commerce City, Westminster, Broomfield, Northglenn and Boulder.
Thornton Police Chief Jim Nursey said Thornton decided to go its own way after Adams County neglected to sign off on the facility.
A group of police chiefs and deputies that were overseeing the project also hasn’t met in a year, Nursey said.
“It became apparent that this project, as we knew it, wasn’t proceeding, so we recommended that the City Council rescind our agreement,” Nursey said.
Adams County has been looking for a new shooting facility for several years since its current practice range rests near several houses near Riverdale Road.
The new range would include a firing range and other training sites.
“But we couldn’t wait,” Nursey said. “Firearms training is critical for us, and we have to have a space to train.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
