Video: CAFB Gun Range May Cost Columbus, Lowndes More

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Protecting Columbus Air Force Base and its 3,000jobs against the next round of base closures is going to cost Columbus and Lowndes County a little extra money.

The low-bid of $1,082,000 by Columbus-based Burks-Mordecai Builders on a new outdoor gun range for base personnel and area law enforcement agencies are about $100,000 above original estimates. Dirt work, sidewalks, and paving also are expected to run higher than originally thought.

Columbus and Lowndes County have a little more than $1 million in state grants and have set aside another $300,000 in cash and in-kind services — such as some of the dirt work, sidewalks and paving. They’ve also asked the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District to chip in $60,000 in drainage work.

But the two local governments will have to agree to split the additional costs on the $1.467 million project. Those costs could include more in-kind work or cash. City and county leaders hope the actual cash amount will be covered by what’s already set aside so they don’t have to dip into reserve funds.

The range will cover more than two acres on 19 acres owned by the city and county at the old Maxim Medical Building off Yorkville Road. It’ll 14 25-meter lanes and four 100-meter shooting lanes as well as other training devices. However, some items, such as specialized targets, may have to be added later.

The range will save the base about $100,000 in training costs and provide a new range for area law enforcement. The existing range adjacent to the Lowndes County Justice Court Building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be closed.

CAFB leaders requested the range — and the state came up with the grant program — as part of a statewide effort to develop projects now that will help make the state’s military institutions more efficient and show community commitment before the next round of military base closures expected in 2017.