Madison County Judge-Executive Kent Clark says everyone in Madison County
should have a voice in the chemical demilitarization process beginning at
Blue Grass Army Depot.
With that in mind, Clark asked the Madison County Fiscal Court Tuesday to
pass a resolution adopting the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board,
its mission and members.
“What we have proposed is something that more or less involves everybody and
gives everybody a voice in what is going to happen out there,” Clark said.
“This process will very much affect what goes on in the long range future
of our county. It is very important everybody is involved, and everybody has
a voice in that.”
The resolution lists CDCAB’s primary concerns, which include promoting the
expeditious destruction of the weapons safely; ensuring the protection of
the community and facility workers by overseeing environment, health and safety
issues; encouraging sustainable economic development of the community due
to the facility’s activities; setting and articulating community priorities;
and playing an intricate role in public outreach and information sharing with
and between the community and CDCAB.
The board is comprised of a number of individuals in the county, including
representatives from the fiscal court, Madison County Board of Education,
Eastern Kentucky University, Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center, and a
number of other groups and organizations within the county.
The board’s ground rules ask organizations to encourage a designated representative
to serve for a three-year term to ensure continuity.
“Instead of having just one individual, we felt like it was important to
put together a group of people who anybody in this county could call to ask
a question.”
The court’s resolution formally endorses CDCAB and its members.
“This is a big step,” Clark said. “We are trying to put together a broad range
of individuals who can work together to provide information to the general
public.
“We’re excited about this,” Clark said. “It’s something nobody has done before.
We think it will work and be a model for others.”
The board’s first formal meeting will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Madison
County Extension Office on Duncannon Lane.
Jodi Whitaker can be reached at jwhitaker@richmondregister.com.