By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
A gun show is being planned for Williston two weeks from now.
City council members have agreed by consensus to give the show a temporary use permit after staff does a background check on the person sponsoring the event.
USA Gun Shows is the company planning to host the show at Airsign Aerial Advertising on Feb. 20-21. Approval of the permit hinges on the background check and the sponsor providing proof of liability insurance among other things.
The address of the show would be 12 NW 5th Place, Williston.
In addition to gun sales, USA Gun Shows is planning to teach a concealed weapons class at the event. Guns will fire wax bullets using only the primer. A backstop of some sort will protect neighboring properties.
“We intend to occupy not only AirSigns Parking area but Rural King’s warehouse parking area too,” said Greg Jacobs who has knowledge of the show. “There are additional grassy areas to receive overflow during the event.”
Jacobs said the wax bullets won’t pose a danger to neighboring properties.
“These wax bullets are 500 feet a second and they’re only shooting them from roughly 14 feet away. If you can’t hit a hay bale at 14 feet you’re not going to get a concealed carry permit,” Jacobs said.
Council members were told a man named Mr. Jeffers was putting on the air show but his first name was never mentioned at the meeting nor could it be found on the internet.
Council President Justin Head said Jeffers has lived in Williston for quite some time and he is familiar with him.
City staff said the plan is for the gun show to be a repeat event every three months.
City Manager Jackie Gorman said city staff would have to inspect the site of the show to make certain there were public bathrooms and adequate parking. She said they would need traffic control and security on site.
Resident Albert Fuller said the city needs to do a good job of background checking the sponsor since it is a show that involves guns. The council agreed to check his background as a requirement.
Sending Out Garbage Bids
Gorman said the city has sent out requests for proposals to prospective garbage collection companies that might want to serve Williston.
The city council and residents aren’t happy with the level of service being provided by Waste Pro.
Gorman said the city has been flooded with emails from residents unhappy with Waste Pro’s record of service.
The town is having problems with missed garbage pickups.
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City of Williston Regular Meeting February 2, 2021; Posted February 6, 2021
