BELLEVILLE, Ill. — St. Clair County taxpayers already have spent $275,000 in legal and consulting fees in the county's four-year effort to close a shooting range it argues is too close to Scott Air Force Base.
And that tab may creep even higher.
County leaders have insisted the 32-acre outdoor shooting range that opened in early 2007 may endanger planes landing at Scott in Mascoutah (muh-SKOO'-tuh). The gun club disagrees.
Earlier this year, a St. Clair County judge dismissed the county's push to close the range.
The county now is appealing that decision and a court order that it pay the gun club more than $80,000 in legal fees.
That could push the county's legal bills in the case to more than $355,000.
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Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
And that tab may creep even higher.
County leaders have insisted the 32-acre outdoor shooting range that opened in early 2007 may endanger planes landing at Scott in Mascoutah (muh-SKOO'-tuh). The gun club disagrees.
Earlier this year, a St. Clair County judge dismissed the county's push to close the range.
The county now is appealing that decision and a court order that it pay the gun club more than $80,000 in legal fees.
That could push the county's legal bills in the case to more than $355,000.
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
