Staff File Photo by John Rawlston
The Tennessee River curves around Moccasin Bend in between Lookout Mountain and downtown Chattanooga.For now, the joint city-county firing range on Moccasin Bend isn't going anywhere. But the Friends of Moccasin Bend are hopeful more discussion - and a lot of money - could change that.
The group met with Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger and Chattanooga officials Thursday to introduce the park's new superintendent and discuss the fate of the firing range.
Past city and county officials had pledged to move the range from Moccasin Bend and give the land to the National Park Service in 2002 after the Bend became an archaeological district connected to the Chickamauga and Chattanoogo National Military Park.
But after county and city officials were hit with a $1.2 million cleanup bill to remove lead from the site, and plans for a new indoor police firing range in downtown Chattanooga fell through last year, plans to move the range were abandoned last month.
Kay Parish, interim executive director of Friends of Moccasin Bend, said she is hopeful the two governments will reconsider moving the range.
The group's first bargaining chip was to help pay for the cleanup of the old site.
"We talked a little bit about the cost of remediating the property. The city and the county are conscious of how money needs to be spent, as they should be. And they are conscious of the fact that law enforcement needs proper training. We suggested that we look for funding to help with the remediation at some point," Parish said.
Coppinger said the meeting was productive, but no deals were made.
It would help if the group could cover the remediation cost, but money wasn't his core concern, he said.
"All of us are trying to do what's best for the taxpayer but also we have to keep into consideration the law enforcement and seeing that our officers are properly trained,"Coppinger said.
Chattanooga officials shared that sentiment. Travis McDonough, chief of staff for Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, reiterated to the park group that public safety was Berke's top priority.
Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, at @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or 423-757-6481.