Bud Shaerer and Cherie Roberts unveil the sign for the new Gene Roberts Public Service Complex which is located at the old Farmer’s Market on 11th Street.Hamilton County commissioners selected an architect to design and build a $4 million indoor police firing range Wednesday over objections from two commissioners who wanted guarantees the building’s roof could stand the test of time.
Commissioners voted 7-2 to hire Franklin Architects to design and oversee construction of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Facility, which will be built at the Gene Roberts Public Service Complex on the site of the old Farmer’s Market off 11th Street.
The training facility will replace the police shooting range at Moccasin Bend, which is to be turned over to the Moccasin Bend National Park. City officials approved the joint contract with Franklin Architects last month.
All county commissioners were in favor of the selection except Joe Graham and Fred Skillern, who wanted assurances from Franklin Architects that the roof of the firing range would be pitched and made of metal instead of flat, synthetic material.
Citing roof problems at Loftis Middle School in Hixson, which leaked soon after construction, and other area school buildings, Skillern and Graham sought to avoid similar issues at the firing range.