Monee Zoning Board Recommends Approval for Sheepdog Firearms After Environmental Safety Review

Sheepdog Firearms, a gun shop and shooting range that has operated in the village for eight years, received a unanimous favorable recommendation for a special use permit from the Monee Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday night. The decision came after a detailed discussion focused on the facility’s environmental safety protocols, particularly its handling of lead waste.

The 7-0 vote sends the recommendation to the Monee Village Board of Trustees, which will have the final say at its meeting on July 23.

The business, located at 25812 S. Sunset Dr., is seeking the permit to come into compliance with a village ordinance that its owners were recently made aware of.

“We wanted to be above board since for the whole eight years we’ve been there,” said Steve Shabacher, a partner at Sheepdog Firearms who represented the business at the meeting. “We just had no idea. The reason for asking for the variance is just to get back in compliance.”

The special use permit covers the sale of ammunition and the operation of its on-site shooting range, which is housed in a converted 53-foot semi-trailer.

The board’s discussion centered on potential environmental hazards. Board member Trevino, who noted a professional background in environmental health and safety, questioned Shabacher extensively about the disposal of lead from spent ammunition and the high-efficiency filters used in the range’s ventilation system.

“One of my big concerns, you know, is always environmental issues,” Trevino said, highlighting the dangers of lead contamination.

Shabacher explained that the business contracts with a professional environmental services company to handle all lead abatement and disposal. He described an annual process where the company “mines” the lead from the range’s granulated rubber bullet trap.

“They’ll pull out the granulated rubber. The lead stays in the trap. Then the lead gets shoveled out into buckets which they take and recycle for us,” Shabacher said. He added that the value of the recycled lead is credited against the service bill, making the process cost-effective. The company also handles the proper disposal of used filters and any other contaminated materials, which are packaged into either a pallet box or a 55-gallon drum.

“We don’t deal with any of the lead stuff at all,” Shabacher assured the board.

Trevino expressed satisfaction with the arrangement. “That’s an excellent way to do that. That eliminates a lot of issues,” he said, noting the importance of preventing lead from contaminating the soil or groundwater.

Other board members, including Chairperson Bettenhausen, mentioned having personally used the facility and found it to be a well-run establishment. With their questions answered, the board closed the public hearing, which had been continued from its June 18 meeting, and voted in favor of the permit.