By David Lazenby
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — More than a month after neighbors of an indoor firing range complained about noise from the facility at a Trussville City Council meeting, three residents on Tuesday informed the council that little has changed.
Chris Cremers on Tuesday speaks to the Trussville City Council about noise from Sheepdog Firearms, a problem the indoor firing range is working to resolve.
Shone Waite, who lives on Deerfoot Crossing Drive, told councilors at a regularly scheduled meeting that on Sunday her television did little to drown out the bangs of gunfire from the range as she tried to nap.
Mayor Buddy Choat assured the trio that he has seen evidence that the proprietors of Sheepdog Firearms are working on a solution to the noise problem.
After Tuesday’s council meeting, city attorney Rick Stotser spoke with the Crossings of Deerfoot neighborhood residents about the methodology being used to systematically soundproof the shooting range.
Chris Cremers, another resident of the Crossings of Deerfoot neighborhood who spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting, said he realizes that resolving the issue will take some time. However, he said he would like for a timeline for the project to be established.
“I think our greatest fear is that the situation will continue to drag on,” he said.
Also he said he wanted to establish a information chain between the city officials, the business owners and the homeowners so residents in the area are kept updated on progress.
Choat said Charles Kessler, a real estate developer and broker in the neighborhood, and Stotser recently walked through the gun range with one of the owners to see the steps that have been taken to eliminate the noise. Choat called the efforts “substantial.”
In addition to insulation recently installed, Choat said Sheepdog Firearms owners plan to install additional soundproofing material next week.
“There has been progress made,” Choat said. However, he added he could still hear some noise outside the facility.
Eric Oare, a resident who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, volunteered to be a liaison between Sheepdog Firearms and the residents of his neighborhood.
Oare spoke at the Aug. 8 council meeting about his concerns about the issue.
“I’m concerned about our home values,” Oare said last month. “If you’re standing there and you’re trying to sell your house and you hear gunshots as loud as they can be, I would not want to move in there.”
Following the meeting, the three area residents who spoke out on the matter said he was pleased with the city officials responsiveness to the problem and willingness to communicate with them in the future.
At the Aug. 8 city council meeting, Choat told concerned citizens that in the council minutes from April 14, 2015 when plans for the indoor shooting range were discussed, the official record of that meeting indicated that city officials were “assured it would be soundproof.”
Stotser urged the concerned citizens at Tuesday’s meeting to visit the shooting range to see what is being done to make the building soundproof.
In August, Michael Lombardo, one of the owners of Sheepdog Firearms, said “We are adamantly working on figuring this problem out.”
159 Comments
Carson Young
Can hear it from Tutwiler
Sharon Glenn Orr
What you hear in Tutwiler might be the Birmingham Police firing range directly behind Jefferson Memorial cemetery.
Carson Young
I just assumed that was the one being referenced. My bad
Ric Weide
whiners. I’m just happy that there is a place you can fire a weapon to prepare for self defense. I hear gun shots almost every night and know it is some thug on the streets!
Diana Katrina Ingram
That in itself it awful. I’ve seen the lawn guys at Jefferson Memorial take a flying leap off mowers due to the flash bangs going off.
Jim Shinn
Question? Was the range there when you moved there?
Dennis Griffin
Now if we could quiet down the train, that’d be great
Tyler Barton
Probably not. It just opened a few months ago.
Laura McCants Reddick- Reichert
The homes were there first.
Jacob Allen Hudson
I’m really bothered by the noise these residents of Trussville to put out. Can we do something about that
Laura McCants Reddick- Reichert
Ric Weide, it’s not an issue of whining. The issue was about lack of communication from the developer to residents on the progress of solving the problem. It’s also about the agreement that this developer and the business had with the homeowners before it was even built that the facility would be noise free in their residential neighborhood. The business is taking steps to remedy the problem and yet the noise persists. I have confidence the business will continue to work towards fixing the problem because they said they would. It’s the honorable thing to do. The residents simply want to be kept updated. I do not live in that neighborhood but I was at the council meeting last night and heard the conversation.
Sullivan Harris Dorene
What’s the name of it?
Jim Shinn
I know there has been one behind the cemetery for 40 years.
Renee Pierce
Sheepdog Firearms training center.
Sullivan Harris Dorene
Thanks
Dennis Sherrod
I wonder why certain businesses are initially approved and allowed to open new businesses close to a residential area? I love shooting, but it seems ridiculous to open one that close. It seems common sense would dictate certain business actions that are loud and that could be disturbing should not be approved in certain areas.
Amanda S. Bell Glenn
Cale Glenn
Cale Glenn
Sharon Glenn Orr is correct. The BPD range is behind the large cemetery on hwy 11
Cale Glenn
Diana Katrina Ingram if they are that jumpy they have issues. Flashbangs are used inside structures on the property snd are not that loud from outside. The range is also very flexible and does no shooting during funeral services
Diana Katrina Ingram
Cale Glenn I understand what you’re saying, but I had never experienced it before when I went to visit my dad. Scared the crap out of me lol It was like a bomb went off
Cale Glenn
Diana Katrina Ingram it could have been a small detonation for bomb squad training if it were that loud. Its rare but occasionally happens
Diana Katrina Ingram
Cale Glenn oh ok
Judy Williams Coleman
I hear the Birmingham police shooting everyday at the shooting range behind Jefferson Memorial . You know what it is and where it’s coming from so it’s ok !
Shone Foley Waite
Thank you
Michael Stanley
That police range makes more noise than anywhere in Trussville.
Kevin Small
It seems to me the question should be more directed to the Trussville planning and zoning board that approved the location than the business.
The business built their business where Trussville told them they could.
Put responsibility where responsibility lays. With the P and Z.
Josh Tinnell
How can I sit in the parking lot and not hear a single shot but people down the road can hear noise? 🤔
Jacob Allen Hudson
It’s like minded people who don’t complain about the police firing range which is an outdoor range where you can hear automatic weapons go off. That’s been going on for years. decades! But God forbid another business comes in they want to run that business out too. Along with every other business Trussville Runs Out
Jacob Allen Hudson
Trussville City Council is a joke. Nothing but Democrats under the Republican name. With their extremely high tax and ridiculous bickering about a sign that a business displays they are sitting themself up for failure……
Matt Coleman
If you would have actually read the article you would have known its a new indoor shooting range that promised nobody would hear into the neighborhoods.might as well.be outdoors as loud as it is lol
Matt Coleman
Would you want a business to move in next to you ,and lie saying you won’t hear anything ,and then they move in and all you hear is gunshots lol .i think your opinion would drastically change after that
Matt Coleman
The Birmingham firing range was there way before the houses this one was not big difference
Gavin McDaniel
I think I will go to sheep dog today just to support them!
Shone Foley Waite
Please do! It cracks me up when people think they will “show us”. We want them to do well.
Shone Foley Waite
Josh Tinnell have you sat in the woods behind the building? Probably not…
Terri Baumann
Matt Coleman they didn’t lie sir! They took steps to minimize the noise and continue as they’ve learned the issues as any NEW BUSINESS does. They’ve communicated with the the ones they should in order to do thing they’ve promised. I think some patience as well as grow thicker skin for many who are moaning and complaining about a facility they continues to teach safety, and allows the ones who protect the said complainers to continue their skills!
Josh Tinnell
I work night shift and hear gunshots on a daily basis, I live across from a fire department, and behind the range in trussville, “controlled” gunshots don’t bother me. Isn’t there something else to complain about? Surely these people will start complaining when a brewery is built downtown 😂😂
Linda Allen Oare
Josh Tinnell , I don’t think the home owners live in the parking lot. They live in the area behind it and on the side of it.
Debby Boyd
I’ve been inside the indoor shooting range & could not hear the shooting while standing in the lobby.
Dave Searcy
Sharon Glenn Orr Its so loud it has awaken the dead.
Shone Foley Waite
Josh Tinnell how about you just mind your business. This issue does not even concern you.
Shone Foley Waite
Terri Baumann I am glad you are an expert on the situation. 🙄
They are working on the issue and we trust that it will be taken care of. We simply were giving an update to the city council on the progress so far. We are not moaning, we just want to enjoy our homes without the noise of gunfire, as promised.
Josh Tinnell
Ahhh mind my own buisiness. Why don’t we all just mind our own buisiness and let a buisiness be a buisiness. I hear Hillary Clinton has a new book, shouldn’t y’all be reading it
Josh Tinnell
Linda Allen Oare if you don’t understand what I’m saying. If you can’t hear it in the parking lot, or outside of the building, how can you hear it miles away? Use some common sense
Josh Tinnell
You are probably just hearing some of those fine citizens of centerpoint shooting in the woods
Linda Allen Oare
The home owners are not claiming to live in the lobby or in the parking lot. They live behind and on the left side of the building. Gun shots can be heard!
Kathy Sills
Get over it…live by the train
Debbie McAuley Frederick
Exactly!
Sabrina Ruebush Lange
Oh my goodness! You can certainly hear it!!
Shone Foley Waite
Why would we take the time to go through all of this if we really could not hear it? Please use common sense people.
Shone Foley Waite
That is why we don’t live by the train. The range was not there until AFTER the neighborhood had been there 10 years. Don’t tell us to get over it. It does not pertain to you.
Jennifer Chinnis Lawley
They didn’t buy these houses before the gun range was built. I’ve been to Shone’s and the noise is louder than the train and the police range.
Kevin Duffey
Ridiculous! I was inside the lobby and couldn’t hardly hear the firing from the range. ♂️
Linda Allen Oare
Please watch video above.
Linda Allen Oare
Josh Tinnell , science my friend!
Jim Shinn
Matt Coleman Just found it odd that you would complain about an indoor range when the outdoor range goes for 12 hours a day.
Terri Baumann
Shone Foley Waite I’m no expert and never claimed to be but I am informed and I agree you should get what’s promised. I just know that you will get what’s promised and Sheep Dog is working to satisfy the neighborhood. I was informing the complainers this as well as asking for some understanding and patience as the company grows.
Shone Foley Waite
Terri Baumann and I agree with you fully that Sheepdog will make it right. We trust them and know that this is not an overnight fix. We want to see them do well.
Shone Foley Waite
Kevin, did you take a walk out back and hang out in the woods?
Shone Foley Waite
And, why in the world would we take the time out of our busy schedules to deal with this if it was not really happening? This baffles me!
Kathy Sills
Our foundation is damaged because of train
..as our ears and that is 24 .7….sorry but noise does pertain to me..thanks ..do they shoot guns at 105 am..320 am 440 am…we all have issues.. people who buy houses like we did never saw or heard that train until the night we moved in…good luck in getting something…unfortunately.
Trains wont change…wow jump on me…
DeAndra Price
Oh my god. It’s literally almost our back yard. It’s no different then the police training on hwy 11 by Tutwiler Farms. It’s the noise of all your law abiding citizens sharpening their shooting skills!
DeAndra Price
The windows open. I’m sorry this is petty.
Jordan Wilbanks
I guess they don’t hear it all the way out there so they have to complain about this instead.
Jordan Wilbanks
Someone should send the tribune a video of the noise from the parking lot so people could get an idea of how loud it is or isn’t.
DeAndra Price
I mean right! the train tracks were there waaaay before the residents. Maybe they should of thought about it b4 buying. The train sounds like money to me 😍 bc that’s my other halfs job. The firing range on hwy 11 that’s 40 plus years they have been there. I grew up in Tutwiler it never phased me. Sheepdog just opened. Give them a chance to adjust. Sheeeesh.
DeAndra Price
Josh Tinnell they have their windows down 🙊 literally sheep dog is almost in our back yard. I am not complaining.
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare what video?
DeAndra Price
Me 3!
Shone Foley Waite
Kathy Sills you jumped first when you said, “get over it”. I am sorry for the problems you have had at your home, but that has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
Linda Allen Oare
The video was attached to the article last month. Problem is, no one bothered to watch it before opening their mouth and stating their opinion.
Shone Foley Waite
There was a video from the news channel and on this thread.
Shone Foley Waite
Apples and oranges
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare I wonder why they still don’t have it up then. Would be nice to watch so people could form good opinions
Shone Foley Waite
Jordan Wilbanks look in this thread
Jordan Wilbanks
Shone Foley Waite is it in the replies to comments? Mine isn’t showing any videos
Shone Foley Waite
Did the police training center tell you it would be soundproof before they built it?
Jacob Allen Hudson
That’s the truth. Trussville has a lot of maturing to do
Shone Foley Waite
Jordan Wilbanks yes. It is a few comments before yours.
CeeJae Eckiwaudah
Was the range or the homes there first?
Kathy Sills
Agreed..i also apologize..i think text always comes out wrong…but believe me 24 7 of a train 1/2 block from our home is awful..i hope you can get some thing done..we couldn’t…alabama foundations and 12000 later back where we all are on Mohawlk drive…
DeAndra Price
They’re trying to fix it. Again I can speak on it bc I nearly can walk to it from my back yard. It’s not a big deal. Before moving here on this side of Trussville after living in Tutwiler Farms we heard the bikes race at barbers. Im just not a petty person. It doesn’t interrupt anyone’s sleep in my home and my baby sleeps just fine.
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare saw your video, to be fair, it isn’t that loud. But I don’t live near there and hear it all of the time. I wouldn’t mind it, but I love guns (prior military) and the sound doesn’t really bother me.
Your phone picked up more mother nature than the gun sounds which is a good thing.
Linda Allen Oare
Check out August 8th article in the Trussville Tribune. Video is attached to article.
Linda Allen Oare
Homes have been there for 10 years. Range – 3 months
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare you have a very lovely backyard.
Linda Allen Oare
Jordan Wilbanks the birds were a lot closer to me than the range. It is very annoying. It’s like a dog that won’t quit barking. I like guns too but just don’t want to hear it all the time.
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare I understand. Im sure that they are going to fix it, I can’t imagine the company wouldn’t turn I blind eye to it with so many people making statements.
Linda Allen Oare
Jordan Wilbanks , yes, we know they are going to work with us and the city to fix it. We are all working together on this issue.
Jordan Wilbanks
Linda Allen Oare that’s great to hear.
Bryan Benson
LOLOL what a deafening sounds that is! The birds made more noise.
Kathy Sills
24 7 it runs and that horn is louder than any bullet
Ron Hughes
Noise barriers are fairly easy to erect but I suspect Trussvillains will whine if theres total silence
Marlene Little Appleton
Good grief!!
Eric Bradford
Sounds like Trussville and the federal government should make everyone have and use suppressors to protect hearing and sound disturbance.
Ron Sharit
Jordan Wilbanks
I’d vote for it
Jordan Wilbanks
Would be easier on my tinnitus!
John Michael Brewer
Will someone please get them a Bernie Sanders sign for their yard!
John Michael Brewer
Rang has been for few years
Garry LaShum
That building is plenty far enough away from the nearest neighborhood! Those people just want to whine and complain!
Mike Desilvestri
Nice yard.
Linda Allen Oare
John Michael Brewer , actually, it opened May 29, 2017. Not a few years ago.
Shone Foley Waite
DeAndra Price where do you live? Why in the world would we take time from our lives to deal with this if it was not a real problem. You do not live where the noise is, so don’t tell us it is petty. It is really unbelievable to me that so many people that do not live here have so many strong opinions.
Let me ask you, what would you do if someone moved next door to you and had a dog that barked non stop outside your bedroom window all day long until 8 pm every day?
John Michael Brewer
Maybe I am thinking of another range is it not the one by the cemetery?
Shone Foley Waite
And yes, they are working on the issue and will resolve it. We know that.
Shone Foley Waite
Yep, you got us, that is all we have to do.
Jennifer Chinnis Lawley
This article isn’t even about the train. 🙄
CeeJae Eckiwaudah
Then I would say if it can be heard , then they have a right to complain and I am all for our 2nd Amendment
Linda Allen Oare
John Michael Brewer , most people are making remarks and they don’t even know what they are talking about.
Linda Allen Oare
And no, it is not by a cemetery. It is by a neighborhood on Deerfoot.
John Michael Brewer
Linda Allen Oare I am sure of that whatever needs to happen to keep Trussville moving forward and property cost high I am down for
Pamela Whittington Shepard
In the article!
Joseph Gunter
The squad Drop 20 Challenge on Hwy 11 makes at least as much noise as the firing range and they crank the music starting at 5:30 a.m., Mon – Sat. And they are directly across the road from a neighborhood.
Kirsten Mackin McCorkle
In your free time Shone. 😉
Shone Foley Waite
Kirsten Mackin McCorkle, exactly! 😂
Garry LaShum
Shone Foley Waite it may or may not be what you do, I don’t know. I am referring to this particular situation with the gun range.
Shone Foley Waite
Garry LaShum ummmm, so am I.
Josh Tinnell
Omg…the windows are down and that’s all y’all are hearing??? Spare me ye old entitled people of trussville..this is absolutely pathetic that y’all are complaining about that.
DeAndra Price
Shone Foley Waite I live right by you & I am also very familiar with nursing and shifts. Same career & my husband is night shift for the railroad. I get sleep is important but I think this is petty. Sorry. I’m not trying to be rude or come off that way. I like how you are saying “I don’t live here ” ha. Wow. I have lived in Trussville my whole life. Tutwiler and now off deerfoot subdivision as you.
DeAndra Price
Jennifer Chinnis Lawley thx for noticing 🙄 how about someone’s comment was though k thx!
Shone Foley Waite
DeAndra Price do you live in The Crossing at Deerfoot?
DeAndra Price
Shone Foley Waite what business is of yours to know my exact location. I said once i can get to sheepdog through the woods of my home! I’m not feeding into this anymore. I had a great firing practice this afternoon and why I didn’t post a video from the parking lot or near back of building I forgot but I will! 🤷🏻♀️ Hope they get the range noise issue fixed for you SOONER then LATER.
DeAndra Price
People need to stop driving loud cars & motorcycles down deerfoot I mean ♀️♀️
Shone Foley Waite
DeAndra Price if you don’t live in the subdivision, then you will not understand. It is not loud anywhere else around the building. It is loud behind the back wall in the direction of the gunfire. They know it and are working hard to fix it. We are not being petty, you would not know how the noise is unless you live in one of our homes, so when you call us petty it is very offensive because you have no idea what you were talking about.
DeAndra Price
Shone Foley Waite again you have NO idea where my home is. I do know this I have a family member on the board for Trussville and this is a old issue that was supposedly a dead topic now bc it’s under works and why this topic got pulled from the chronicles I don’t know. Why would I lie or why would you assume I live no where near or in your subdivision? 😂 I honestly hope they get this fixed for you. I truly do. I guess I’ve just adapted to cars, motorcycles & trucks being loud on deerfoot all the time. I’ve adapted. I guess some ppl can’t. Again I do wish they fix the issue soon. Maybe I should be more sensitive to the subject.
Marc Ward
Jacob Allen Hudson which businesses?
Shone Foley Waite
I was only curious as to where you live because you said you can walk there from your back yard. The only place you can access Sheepdog from a back yard is in the neighborhood or North Park Baptist Church. Thank you for hoping they will fix it. I am sure they will because they are good people. As far as being a dead issue, it is not. It was only brought up for the first time on 8/8 and the business is only 3 months old.
Jill Vann Ware
Dale Jones
Justin Williamson
They are working together to find a solution, per the meeting minutes. Not sure why everyone’s so up in arms.
Juan Mejia Jr.
Jonathan Barrett David Williams
Eddie Harden
Linda Allen Oare
Amen!
Jesse Womack
Why don’t the HOA of that community pay for the noise barrier walls or come to an agreement with all involved.
Linda Allen Oare
We are not claiming to live in the parking lot. The noise is coming from the back side.
Linda Allen Oare
Why should the HOA pay for anything? Sheepdog is suppose to be a noise free shooting range per the agreement between the city council, mayor, and sheepdog.
Brett Nabors
Makes no sense.
Kevin Duffey
Shone Foley Waite yes I watched it and just like the guy mentioned, the birds are louder. Good thing you dont live in the country!
Shone Foley Waite
The reason the birds sound louder is because they were about 50 feet away from the iPhone. The gunfire was much, much further away. It is very simple if you take time to think about it. I don’t live in the country, I don’t live near the train tracks, and I don’t live near the police shooting range, so none of those points have anything to do with this situation. It is very comical to me that no one here seems to get the point. The city of Trussville gets it, Sheepdog gets it, and the homeowners in the neighborhood get it, so it does not really matter what anyone else thinks about any of this.
Kim Farr Hollingsworth
Linda Allen Oare, when all else fails….🍸! 🤣
DeAndra Price
Shone Foley Waite again I apologize if I came off snarky earlier. I love living over in this part of Trussville & I love the neighborhood. Again, I should be more understanding. I guess bc I hunt, I go to firing ranges a lot & I have law enforcement in my family I’m just used to guns and it doesn’t stand out to me as it probably would someone else.
So my apologies for coming off to strong. I asked my dad if things got handled with sheepdog and he said yes that they were working on it and he hasn’t heard any more complaints since early August. How ever there still are complaints I see via the post. I was just curious.
Linda Allen Oare
Kim Farr Hollingsworth Amen sister!
Linda Allen Oare
Bryan Benson the birds are 50 feet away and the range is a mile away.😡
Daniel Beckworth
That doesn’t make sense
Shaun Fassina
This thread has reminded me that I havent been to SHeepdog in a week or so…. Time to make another visit. Thanks peeps. Sheepdog is an asset to the surrounding communities.
Susan Duke
Wayne A Duke
Wayne A Duke
We have the law-enforcement firing range very close to our house and all the neighborhoods and South Trussville. We hear the firing range every day and sometimes at night. It’s just not a big deal unless you make it a big deal.
Wayne A Duke
Trussville also has trains all time day and night every day of the week. You get use to the sound. Live and let live.
Joanna Kemp Cotton
In St. Clair Co. people shoot in the woods everywhere. At least they know where the shots are coming from. 🙂
Ginger Wadsworth Hurd
I gotta neighbors 24 hr barking dog I’ll trade you any day!
Hazel Clanton
I hear it all the time also and pay no attention
Chris Godfrey
Carly Regan
Chris Godfrey
Chris Lane Kelli Lane
Robert E. Bryant III
Great plan, me too!
Robert E. Bryant III
My gosh some people need to get a hobby. Go find something productive to do and let this be.
Ryan Wood
You can come pick the bird shot off my driveway.
James Farley
Boo hoo. It’s been there before you moved there so get over it. My Lord people find something better to worry about
Perry Seahorn
Actually the neighborhood was there long before Sheepdog was even mentioned. However, I believe it’s just a bunch of anti 2A people as I’ve stood in the parking lot and you can definitely hear it, but it’s not bad.
James Farley
Yeah true. But that’s what I’m saying the people complaining moved there afterwarda. Knowing fair well. Just get over it
Brian Bishop
Ridiculous, sums it up in a nice way.