Residents wanting

to hone their shooting skills at a former Olympic venue in South Fulton

County found the gates locked Tuesday.

The Wolf Creek

shooting range was shut down by Fulton County officials this week because

of concerns over the cost of maintaining the facility.

But during

Wednesday's Fulton County Commission meeting, several citizens denounced

the county's action.

Tony Yetman

told the commission they were in direct violation of a contract that was

signed four years ago that pledged to keep the center open for five years

in return for accepting a $300,000 grant to help defray costs at the facility.

He failed to

understand how the county could shut down a facility that generated a

big economic boon to the area.

"It's

been estimated the economic impact of the shooting range to the area is

$9 million," he said.

If the county

is in violation of the contract, it would cost the county $300,000 for

the grant and 12 percent interest added, Yetman said.

He said the

facility hosts sport shooting events for groups from all around the country,

because there is not another public facility like Wolf Creek.

The Georgia

High School Association had planned to conduct its 2002 rifle championship

at the site, but now that's up in the air.

Woodward Academy

also trains its team at Wolf Creek, and Yetman said Woodward officials

had to scramble this week to get thousands of guns out of the facility

before it was locked shut.

But not all

residents were upset the range was shut down.

Judy Hill,

who lives near the facility, said it has had nothing but a negative impact

on her quality of life.

"The shooting

goes on several times a week and it's been an intrusion on our community,"

she said.

The commissioners

declined to comment on the issue.