ATA 'confused and disappointed' with WSRC controversy

<span>As the back-and-forth over the state budget continues between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrat-controlled Legislature, Amateur Trapshooting Association Executive Director and Grand American Tournament Director Lynn Gipson said the situation has harmed the credibility of the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.</span>

<span>Gov. Bruce Rauner has previously threatened to "suspend operations" at the complex starting Sept. 1 if a budget deal was not in place, or the previously-approved Democratic one was.</span>

<span>"Confused and disappointed would be probably two fairly accurate assessments," said Gipson, when asked the ATA's reaction to the situation. "Most of our members are not from Illinois and not familiar with Illinois politics."</span>

<span>Illinois politics have seen the WSRC used as a virtual pawn in a game of political chess between Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton.</span>

<span>The shooting complex was included on a list of "management steps" to save $420 million that Rauner released on June 12.</span>

<span>It was the only Department of Natural Resources facility to be affected.</span>

<span>"I don't understand the reasoning, I really don't," Gipson said. "We brought our world headquarters to Sparta and hired a local staff.</span>

<span>"We felt like we've held up our end of the deal and feel like the rug's been pulled out from under us."</span>

<span>On June 30, Rauner dealt the WSRC another blow when he voted a $157,000 earmark for road resurfacing inside the complex.</span>

<span>"We gave the state everything we could when we moved here," Gipson said. "Everything that wasn't nailed down at Vandalia, we gave to them for the shooting complex."</span>

<span>Vandalia, Ohio, was the ATA's previous home of the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships from 1924 to 2005. The shooting event regularly draws thousands of competitors and brings an estimated $10 million to $12 million every year to the local economy.</span>

<span>"When we moved (to Sparta) in 2006, there was a lot of bitter members who didn't want the Grand here," Gipson said. "We've kinda gotten over that. The association worked pretty hard to make it feel like this is our home.</span>

<span>"It's a lot better shooting facility than we had in Ohio."</span>

<span>The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP)'s National Championships, which are scheduled for July 13 through 18 for American competitors, bring in an estimated $6 million to $8 million, according to Gipson.</span>

<span> "That's $16 million to $20 million for two events," he said. "There's potential for more."</span>

<span>The ATA's extended its contract with the state in 2011 for an additional 10 years, theoretically keeping the Grand American, which will run from Aug. 5 through 15 this year, in Sparta until 2026.</span>

<span>"Our lease with the state runs until 2026, but I'm told that if the Legislature doesn't fund that property, they can close it and we're out with any recourse," Gipson said.</span>

<span>One of the options previously discussed for the WSRC was privatizing all or some of the 1,600-acre, $31.5 million complex that was completed in 2006.</span>

<span>During a visit in April, new Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal said privatization was an avenue the DNR was not thinking of pursuing.</span>

<span>"I can't see a private entity coming in there and dropping a million bucks or working their assess off to break even; I just don't," Gipson said. "It was built as a park, it should stay a park."</span>

<span>Gipson said the shooting complex remains "a good deal" for the state and with the hiring of Rosenthal, industry partners believed things were heading in the right direction.</span>

<span>"(The WSRC) needs a little bit different management plan, but that was on the way of getting done and then this happens," Gipson said, referring to the budget impasse.</span>

<span>Gipson remains hopeful the budget impasse can be resolved and credibility restored to the WSRC.</span>

<span>"I was behind the shooting complex from Day 1 and it's a fantastic place to shoot at," he said. "The shortcomings are lodging and it's a long commute. I've always felt that if there was more consistent activity out there, some of those things would come along.</span>

<span>"That's just more money for the state."</span>