DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A shooting range in Muskegon County is at the center of a legal battle after 32 years in business.
Grasmeyer Brothers in Dalton Township is fighting to keep its shooting range open, but the local government says they would be operating illegally, and the issue has been ongoing since 2013.
Dalton Township Supervisor Jerry McIntire said the zoning district does not allow gun ranges in commercialized areas. “In that zoning district, there are no gun ranges allowed, but because there was one there, it’s a non-conforming range that was existing, so we allowed it."
The range opened up in 1982, owned and operated by Lee Grasmeyer, the owner of Grasmeyer Brothers. Grasmeyer sells firearms and recreational vehicles and operates a three-lane shooting range just off US-31.
Dalton Township is now taking the business to court.
“We're a small business,” said Grasmeyer. "We can’t afford to do all that."
Last week, Dalton Township zoning officials voted to shut down two of the three ranges.
And they’re taking them to court for more than just the shooting range.
“I know that our building officials have written out three tickets that are going to court for his construction,” said McIntire.
“It takes a lot of revenue out of us,” said Grasmeyer. “Where I could be putting all the money I’m spending on attorneys, I could put back into make this an even better range.”
Over the years, different city ordinances have forced Grasmeyer to adhere to other stipulations imposed by the township. Grasmeyer believes he and other small businesses in the township are being targeted.
“I think there is just some bad blood with the employees of the township that are just looking for ways to create problems for us here locally,” said Grasmeyer.
But McIntire and his committee believe they are helping the community.
“We have a lot of small businesses, and you can go ask them if they’ve been bullied by Dalton Township, but I think you’ll find that they’ve been helped, if anything,” said McIntire.
Grasmeyer vs. Dalton Township goes to court April 21. It’s a case that’s got many people taking sides.
A Facebook group is already mobilizing, trying to help Grasmeyer pay for his lawyer fees. They’re raising $10,000 with a gofundme.com page and a shooting benefit held May 23 at his shooting range.
