By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - The Butler County Board of Zoning Appeals has upheld an operating permit the county had issued to a Milford Township bird-shooting operation that a neighboring family had accused of being noisy and dangerous.

The board decided this week to allow Ridgewind Quail Hunt to keep its operating permit and added three conditions to the permit.

The conditions are:

• Limit ammunition used in commercial hunting to low-power birdshot shotgun shells no larger than 12-guage.

• Comply with noise limits established for shooting ranges by the Ohio Department of Wildlife.

• Supervise all commercial hunting and tell the hunters about the new conditions.

But Mike and Cara Loriz, who live next to Ridgewind Quail Hunt, are unhappy with the board's action. They were trying to get the board to revoke the permit.

"All the board did was give them a couple of more conditions that are meaningless," Mike Loriz said.

The board's ruling paves the way for Ridgewind to reopen. It has been closed since September because of a lawsuit filed by the Loriz family against Ridgewind and the county. A judge ordered the operation to close until the zoning appeals board made a decision.

Ridgewind officials have maintained that they are following all laws and regulations and that the Loriz family's complaints have no basis.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com