Richmond Register:
1/18/03

Destruction of weapons has big impact

Kent Clark
Madison County Judge-Executive

(Editor's note: This is the first in a regular series of columns written by local leaders. Officials will discuss issues relating to the area.)

I would like to thank the Richmond Register for giving local leaders the opportunity to talk about and discuss issues that will effect us now and in the future.
For this first article, I want to talk about the 50-plus-year-old rockets and gas stored at the

Blue Grass Army Depot, and the initial effects the process of destroying these weapons will have on our community.

A historic decision will be made in the near future as to the exact means of destruction. Through the tireless efforts of a small group of Madison County residents, we are assured it will be some type of neutralization.

I would like to admit about eight months ago, I was leaning toward incineration as the method of disposal. I really felt it was the only safe, proven means of disposing of the gas for our residents. After many meetings, discussions and interviews with people I really respect, I changed my mind, and I'm glad I did. I am confident neutralization is the safest means of disposal for Madison County residents.

There are several key factors that must be accomplished in order to ensure this 10-year procedure will have positive effects on the future of our county. I would like to discuss two of those for this article.

First, we need to initiate an executive board made up of the county judge-executive, mayors of Richmond and Berea, a representative of the Blue Grass Army Depot (the colonel if possible), members of the Citizens Advisory Committee board, representatives of the Richmond and Berea Chamber of Commerce, our state senator, our state representative and a representative from the governor's office. These are the positions, in my opinion, that should be included on the board. The members would, of course, be open for discussion for additions or other changes.

Second, the board would be involved as much as possible in working with all parties involved in selecting the contractor for the project. I truly believe our working relationship with the contractors, the Army and the Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment program will be one of the most important aspects of this 10-year project. We have to ensure our local workforce is prioritized, training programs are established for those individuals, the majority of supplies and materials are purchased locally, and, if they are not available, we work together at bidding and recruiting companies which can provide these materials.

We have to stress how important it is for the people who do come here to work be part of the community. We want them to be involved in local clubs, organizations, churches and the chamber of commerce. And as most people do, we want them to decide to stay here to work and raise their families after the destruction of the gas is done.

This 10-year process can very much affect the quality of life for our county from now on. We have to work together for it to succeed.

I look forward in future columns to discussing other effects the destruction of the gas will have on our community.