Anniston Star
March 25, 2003

Officials take step to keep depot out of 2005

By Nathan Solheim
Star Staff Writer
03-25-2003

An effort to protect the Anniston Army Depot from the upcoming round of base closings took a step forward Monday when local officials agreed to hire a consultant to help organize the campaign.

Nathan Hill, a former civilian officer at the Anniston Army Depot, will serve in a capacity similar to that of an executive director of the community Base Realignment and Closure effort, overseeing fundraising, community relations and coalition building.

Similar preparations have been made by other Alabama communities with installations to ready themselves for the next BRAC round in 2005.

"I think it's essential," said Sherri Sumners, the president of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. "All the other installations have someone on full time. The days of the volunteer ad hoc groups are gone. The stakes are way too high."

The Anniston Army Depot has about a $2 billion annual economic impact on northeastern Alabama and employs about 4,700 people.

Hill was chosen by a group of local officials from Calhoun County and surrounding counties led by Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Saks. The terms of Hill's contract are still to be worked out.

Hill could not be reached for comment Monday.

"What excites me about this is his background and knowledge of the depot and the system in general," said Anniston Mayor Chip Howell. "He's been through BRAC before as a civilian chief and he knows the capacity of our posi-tion."

Hill, from Anniston, was the executive officer of the depot for about 18 years and retired in the late 1990s. He has worked closely with other military depots since then as a private consultant.

Other efforts to keep the depot safe from closure have begun to pick up as well. Late last week, Rogers announced the formation of a regional effort to protect the depot from BRAC; the details of the plan are still under consideration.

There are also efforts to build a public support group of citizens and business interests united in the goal of protecting the depot.

Piedmont Mayor Charlie Fagan said local governments are rallying around the depot to keep it open.

"It's going to help," Fagan said of Hill. "Putting someone at the forefront and help us get going."