Anniston Star
February 28, 2003

Contract negotiations put hold on protective gear for Calhoun County

By Nathan Solheim
Star Staff Writer
02-28-2003

Calhoun County residents expecting a protective hood or a shelter-in-place kit will have to wait a little longer.

The Calhoun County Commission delayed approval of the contract that would provide protective equipment for local residents in case of an accident at the Anniston Army Depot's chemical weapons stockpile.

Commissioners said they held off on the decision because last-minute contract negotiations with Virginia-based Centech, Inc. were not finished.

Centech won the contract earlier this month, but the commission initially postponed approval until the remaining federal money for the program, totaling more than $5 million, had been received. Since then, federal officials have sent the money to the county.

"I prefer delaying it in order to get where we'll feel comfortable with it and it's all legal," said Calhoun County Commission Chairman James A. "Pappy" Dunn. "When it's this much money, we need all the i's dotted and the t's crossed because it involves a lot of folks."

Commissioners won't be able to vote on the measure until at least the middle of next week because some are traveling to Washington, D.C. for a national conference of commissioners.

If the contract is approved, Centech will have 30 days to start doling out the protective equipment, which includes protective hoods, recirculation filters and shelter-in-place kits. Centech must also build a database that catalogs local residents and their equipment needs.

Officials close to the negotiations said the outstanding details center on the timeline for distribution and determining the order in which residents receive protective gear.

The contract also will have to undergo a final review by Centech attorneys, Calhoun County Attorney Tom Sowa and the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency.

"You have to remember, this is the first time this has ever been done in the country on this level," said Mike Burney, director of the Calhoun County EMA.

The overall cost of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program's citizen's protection effort is more than $13 million. Centech has already secured a distribution and storage facility at McClellan for the equipment.

Preston Gray, a former political candidate for state Senate, was chosen by Centech to lead the program here in Anniston. He has been close to the negotiations for the past few weeks.

"It's wise to make sure you have the contract in order so it can be a smooth operation once we start distributing equipment," Gray said..