THOMASVILLE — Noise is the biggest complaint a Thomas County man has about a proposed shooting range within a mile of his home.

Ashley Singletary, who lives on the dirt section of Cone Road, said his family and others will be subjected to shooting noises “all the time, every day. I’m not interested in that.”

Singletary and two others are circulating petitions to gather names of people who live within a two-mile radius of the proposed range site. The petitions will be presented to the Thomas County Commission.

The proposed site is bordered by Woodruff Farm and County Farm roads.

Philip Watt, M.D., a Thomasville resident and member of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Board of Directors, approached county commissioners in 2014 about the possibility of Thomas County receiving a grant for the shooting range, which also would have an archery range, hiking trails and a fish pond.

Watt said money to fund the range would be from a federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition.

“Those funds are made available to the states,” said Watt, who described the facility as “a great opportunity for the community.”

“Shooting sports are popular,” Watt said, pointing out two shooting ranges already at the site.

One, he said, is a 4-H range, while the other is used by the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office for firearm instruction.

A private gun club also uses the site, which would continue to be used by the sheriff’s office for training.

Range users would be charged a small fee.

Watt, DNR and county commissioners are attempting to coordinate a date for a public hearing to gather input on the plan.

DNR administers the grant program that would fund the facility, said Mike Stephenson, Thomas County manager.

The facility would cost about $1.5 million, inclusive of DNR funding and about $200,000 in Thomas County government funding from impact fees, along with county government in-kind services.

“We’re going to do a lot of work with county crews,” Stephenson said.

Singletary said it is “stupid” to spend tax dollars on a project that will not generate appreciable income for county government.

“It’s going to be a waste, I think,” Singletary said.

Expressing concern about safety, Singletary said, “Stray bullets are going to land somewhere.”

He questioned whether screening and background checks will be done on those using the range, pointing out the facility will be open to people who live outside Thomas County.

Singletary, who can be reached at nopublicrange@gmail.com, plans to take his petition to the people this weekend — door to door.

Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.