Shooters Association Revived in Brevort
By Paul Gingras

After nearly 20 years, the Straits Area Shooters Association (SASA) has been revived, and its members are preparing to renovate their old shooting range at the corner of Castle Rock Road and M- 123. The group plans to refurbish its 100-yard and 200-yard rifle ranges, as well as its 25-yard pistol range. The ranges will be complete with roof covers, shooting benches, and sand bullet-stops.

The shooters are planning to offer hunter safety classes for youth, as well as pistol and rifle contests. A range officer will be present for training sessions for police and Coast Guard members who may wish to use the facility, said SASA member Jimmie Miller.

The project was enthusiastically accepted by the Brevort Township Board of Trustees at its Monday, November 5, meeting. Following a presentation by SASA leaders Jay Tremble, Don Schairer, and Mr. Miller, the board approved the group's plan, pending receipt of a copy of SASA's insurance policy, which must indemnify the township, said Township Supervisor Ed Serwach. There were no negative comments from the public at the meeting, noted Township Clerk Susan Stelzer.

The project is allowed under the township's ordinance, but as a courtesy, the board requested that the group obtain letters of agreement from residents of neighboring properties.

Mr. Miller said SASA has spoken with five of the six neighbors and they appear to be in agreement with the project. When the letters are signed, the group will present them to the township board.

SASA disbanded in the 1980s.

As the project progresses, area residents will notice fenced off areas along M-123 and Castle Rock Road. Warning signs and a secured gate will be provided. A safety concern involves the rebuilding of bullet stops, raised banks of sand, which SASA plans to augment by piling on more sand and adding sand-filled tires.

"Shooting is a big deal up here," Mr. Serwach said, and the project adds a recreational opportunity in the township. SASA's plan "is to provide an area where members and guests can utilize their firearms in a safe and controlled environment," Mrs. Stelzer said.

"We are in the groundwork phase of this," Mr. Miller told The St. Ignace News. "We want to make a good association out of this that a lot of people will utilize." Strong participation is likely to lead to more projects, he added.

SASA has established a fivemember board of directors, which includes Mr. Miller, Mr. Schairer, Mr. Tremble, Rudy Hennekes, and Mark Eby.

The group will hold its first official meeting in December, plans to complete its paperwork throughout the winter, and will begin working at the site in the spring.

In other business, the township received a positive audit report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, from Anderson, Tackman and Company. The township is in the black, reported Trish Brazil of Anderson, who presented the audit.

The municipality emerged from the 2006/2007 fiscal year with $163,646 in its general fund, down from $180,522 at the end of the 2005/2006 fiscal year. Municipal departments underestimated their budgets by $89,672, the auditor explained, requiring the township to draw more than expected from the general fund.

The township's fire fund finished the year with a balance of $254,098, and the road fund finished with $271,146.

The auditor suggested the township note the weakness of having all bookkeeping duties done by one person, which could cause errors, omissions, and irregularities to occur that are not discovered and corrected quickly. Anderson noted that the township may not have sufficient staff to segregate these duties.

The township board said it has instituted oversight to avoid any potential problems.

The company also noted that the township should more closely monitor expenditures from its road and general funds, to comply with state law.

The board responded that it will monitor its funds more closely and make budget amendments more frequently.