Anniston Star
May 20, 2003

Mayors push to start process: Federal, state, local officials asked to stop further delays

By Nathan Solheim
Star Staff Writer
05-30-2003

Calhoun County's mayors want the chemical weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot to go away.

All seven mayors signed a resolution asking federal, state and local officials, as well as private sector groups, to "eliminate any remaining impediments that would further delay the incineration of the chemical stockpile."

By signing the resolution, each mayor affirms that incineration is a proven technology for destroying chemical weapons and that storing agents represents the greatest community risk.

"The danger to me is it sitting there with nothing being done," said Weaver Mayor Ed Kimbrough.

Local anti-incineration groups crowded the Thursday-morning press conference, bearing homemade poster board signs touting strong opposition to incineration.

"I'm disappointed they made such a resolution," said Rufus Kinney, of the Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration. "If they had a meeting, I'd hoped they'd say don't do anything until all safety measures are in place."

Kinney also informed the mayors that the Calhoun County Commission is the only legally recognized authority dedicated to protecting the citizens of Calhoun County.

Thursday's development comes as Army officials work to complete various safety measures, including the overpressurization of local schools and addressing the special-needs population. They have also approached local officials with a plan to begin limited operations at the chemical weapons incinerator in June.

Army officials are also close to submitting notice to Congress about starting the incineration process, though no definite timeline has materialized.

Anniston Mayor Chip Howell insisted the resolution does not stand in the way of completing safety measures in the works. He said he just feared more would be proposed, delaying destruction even further.

It was a sentiment echoed by others on the council of mayors.

"We could argue this for years," said Ohatchee Mayor Joel Roberson. "Let's get it done and over with."

Kinney said he does not support starting destruction of chemical weapons unless all safety measures have been met, and even then, he said, he still doesn't support incineration.

"Starting incineration before the schools are overpressurized is unacceptable," Kinney told the council of mayors.

The resolution will be hand-delivered to Army officials in Washington, D.C., next week. It represents a departure from the Calhoun County Commission's stance on chemical weapons. Several weeks ago, the commission asked the Army for a contingency plan if the incinerator is proven not to work or shuts down for any reason.

County officials have battled federal officials for years over preparedness and safety issues related to the stockpile. However, this resolution was not intended to send a mixed message from the cities' mayors and Calhoun County's officials to the Army officials in charge of starting the incinerator.

"Each one of us thanks the Lord their decisions were not ours," Howell said, referring the commissioners' stance. "We're not going to Monday morning quarterback them."

In addition to Howell, Roberson and Kimbrough, Mayors Jerry Smith of Jacksonville, Leon Smith of Oxford, Charlie Fagan of Piedmont and Robert Pyles of Hobson City signed the