BY FRANK DELANO
Foes of an O'Gara training facility took aim yesterday at Westmoreland County supervisors for using "secrecy, deception and clandestine tactics" in allowing a proposed tactical training base to locate near Montross.
"No public reviews and no citizen input has now resulted in the anger and outrage you see before you. You have chosen to ignore the concerns of the citizens who elected you and pay your salaries," said Robert Quinn of Westmoreland County Citizens for Change.
WCCC was recently formed to protest the January decision of the county's Industrial Development Authority to sell a county-owned industrial building and 25 acres to The O'Gara Group of Cincinnati for $679,179.
A county zoning official also ruled that the O'Gara facility was a school unrestricted by zoning ordinances on 325 adjacent agricultural acres that O'Gara has contracted to buy for $2.5 million.
"The Board of Supervisors, County Administrator and the IDA have neglected their responsibility to the citizens of this county by using loophole strategies to label this mercenary training camp a school," said Quinn, an Arlington resident who owns property on Nomini Creek about two miles from O'Gara's proposed shooting and driving ranges.
According to Quinn and other WCCC members, the organization has gathered 600 signatures on an anti-O'Gara petition on its Web site. Last week, WCCC also bought radio spots and a full-page ad in a weekly newspaper.
In its own defense, the county presented gunfire noise levels taken Friday by sheriff's deputies. Sheriff's Lt. Ron Hundley said deputies at the industrial building shot a 9mm pistol and a .233-caliber rifle, guns typically used in O'Gara training. Other deputies recorded noise levels at five locations ranging from a quarter-mile to about 2 miles away.
Decibel readings ranged from 33 to 43. According to a National Institute of Health chart, the levels were less noisy than a normal conversation and much quieter than most household appliances.
Nevertheless, a dozen other speakers lambasted the county's deal with O'Gara.
"Our quality of life is being taken away from all of us," said Mark McArton of Leedstown.
"You're going to hear combat every day. Combat vets in the county don't want to hear it, but you'll hear it. Our children will hear it. We'll all hear it. Every day," said Paul Mountjoy of Kinsale.
"If you all made a mistake, just say you made a mistake. We'll forgive you. All you need to do is say no and let [O'Gara] go somewhere else," said Gary Heath of Montross.
O'Gara's deals for its proposed training operation are scheduled to close July 1. O'Gara attorney Richard H. Stuart of Montross and Supervisor Chairman Darryl E. Fisher said yesterday they had heard of no serious impediments to the closings.
Frank Delano: 804/761-4300
Email: fpdelano@gmail.com