(file photo)

The Reno County Commission appears ready to pass a county ordinance banning the firing of rifles or handguns within the floor control dikes on either side of the Arkansas River in the county.

Sheriff Captain Wayne Baughman telling is that there have been many reports of incidents over the past couple of years where people were firing their guns and the rounds coming close to homes located near the river. But, it finally may have come to a head when earlier this month, a mother and her infant child were sitting on their couch in Nickerson located near the river, and a bullet came into her home, landing next to her and her infant child on the couch.

That led to other complaints and concerns from area residents of Nickerson and the county. That’s led to the county deciding to take some action.

The proposed resolution which would ban the firing of any rifle or handgun along either side of the river county wide. Shotguns would be excluded from this ban. Those wanting to shoot could do so on private land if they have written permission on them from the land owner.

Anyone who violates this resolution could be charged with a misdemeanor offense, although the exact wording or penalty has not been written into the resolution thus far.

The county is expected to take action on this issue at their next meeting which will be held April 3, according to County Commissioner Dan Deming.

The county also agreed on moving the voting of a proposal for a new jail to next April instead of the November election. They had earlier decided that it might get lost in all the other ballot issues that voters will have to consider.

There was some concern that it could interfere with a city election to renew their 1-quarter cent sales tax. The city was considering having that vote in April as well, but that could be held off until the August primary. Nothing was decided with City Manager John Deardoff asking the council to think about it. It’s expected to be on their agenda for April 3.

The city needs to renew the sales tax in order to continue to fund street projects as well as the Kansas Cosmosphere and the Underground Salt Museum.