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MESA <br />COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />District 1 — John Justman (970) 244-1605 <br />District 2 - Steve Acquafresca (970)-244-1604 <br />District 3 — Rose Pugliese (970) 244-1606 <br />P.O. Box 20,000 544 Rood Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado 81502-5010 mcbocc®mesacounty.us Fax(970)244-1639 <br />April 10, 2013 <br />The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife <br />c/o Frank McGee <br />711 Independent Avenue <br />Grand Junction, CO 81505 <br />Re: Letter of Support for a Sport Shooting Complex <br />Ladies and Gentlemen: <br />The Mesa County Board of Commissioners wholeheartedly supports the concept of a proposed Sport <br />Shooting Complex because of the foreseen beneficial economic impacts to Mesa County and our <br />neighboring counties. There is the potential for significant economic benefits to our tourism industry <br />based on the competitive sporting events and hunting events that would come to Mesa County. These <br />tourists will eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels and buy our Western Colorado merchandise, <br />including our produce and wines. <br />There are an inadequate number of places in the region for shooting activities to occur. Demands for <br />shooting opportunities far exceed the number of places to shoot. The youth in our region will benefit <br />from the promotion of a new shooting facility. Young people are the future of our hunting and shooting <br />traditions. There are diminishing numbers of shooting sportsmen. A new shooting complex will help to <br />reverse those numbers by bringing more youth into the sport. <br />There will also be additional benefits from the shooting complex. First, there is the education of our <br />students and residents on gun safety and protection, including the ability for law enforcement officials, <br />both inside and outside of Mesa County, to utilize the shooting complex for training opportunities. Also, <br />the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife is deeply concerned about the downward trend of hunter <br />numbers available to managegame populations in the future. More shooting opportunities are needed <br />to get more people interested in shooting to assure game management success. <br />Considering the current economic climate of Mesa County, and the Western Slope as a whole, we need <br />the ability create our own jobs and enhance our tourism and agricultural industries. The creation of this <br />shooting complex is consistent with Governor Hickenlooper's "bottom up" approach to economic <br />development and will help fill a need on many levels for our economic stability. <br />We appreciate your consideration in this matter. <br />Best regards, <br />Sincerely, <br />Board of County Commissioners <br />h <br />S AAcquafre a, air Rose P Hese, Commissioner John Justman, Commissioner <br />Creating a community of opportunities for all residents with a focus on the future. <br />PR -6 Al 5-3-7 New 02/16 <br />