COM 1149.001 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura From: David Fell [david@hawaiinursery.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 9:52 AM j To: Delance crr Cc: BOB ROLLER, Arakaki, James; Holschuh, Fred; Ikeda, Donald, Higa, Stacy Subject: funding for PAT-Traps Zi cn ' Aloha Council Members, C., Please accept this written testimony as I will be out of town during the meeting. I understand that there is some testimony against funding improvement to the Trap and Skeet Range. I feel it is important to fund these machine improvements to the range because the 3 machines that are to be replaced date are from the 1960's plus or minus a decade. They are very old technology and are labor intensive to utilize. New machines will carry this park into the future with industry standard technology. Why is this important? We'll every year we host the Pacific International Trap Association State Shoot at the range. We have about 20-30 shooters from the mainland and similar numbers from the State of Hawaii. This year we expect outer island shooters, which have not participated in the past due to our equipment. Every year we distribute a questionnaire about what we can do better to improve the shoot. The overwhelming comments are that we need better trap machines and improvements to the road into the park. The machines will give us the biggest improvement and provide the best experience for everyone. I consider these machines an investment that has a very short repayment period. 20-30 shooters come from the mainland and bring a spouse and or children. They rent hotel rooms, cars and purchase souvenirs and food. They're on the Big Island for about a week. Without the new equipment we will not be able to continue to host this shoot. In addition, I would like to point out a more important use and that is for our local shooters. The range is utilized by not only our club (Big Island Trap Club) but many others, too numerous to mention. This park is the only public place that people can shoot shotguns in a safe organized fashion. Use during this time of year is especially high with the hunting public sharpening their skills prior to bird hunting. If we don't have the new equipment the ability of the park to service the shooting public will be severely impaired. There are many worthy uses for public funds. This is one of them and a good investment as well. Please help the shooting public by keeping the Hilo Tr V p nd' Comm NO00Lg ~ Ref. To: 11/15/2006 Ref. Dote