Army is Miles off

The Army Site selection process has inched forward one step, unfortunately it is not the step that Middletown residents were led to expect as part of the Army's open and collaborative site selection process.

Two sources have indicated that the Army Corps of Engineers will no longer be considering the Mile Lane site, which is currently owned by the army, for their proposed Armed Forces Reserve training center. Mile Lane was removed from consideration after Army lawyers determined that the language of the Base Relocation and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC2005) required that the Mile Lane site be sold.

Meanwhile, the army continues to pursue 3 other sites for the Military training facility, all in the same Westfield area. One of these sites, Boardman Lane, has been roundly condemned as unsuitable by Middletown residents, and by officials at all levels of the government.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro spoke with the commander of the Louisville Army Corps on Friday, and issued a statement expressing consternation that the Boardman Lane property is still being considered. She indicated that the process that they are now following did not appear to be a collaborative one, saying, "I reinforced with him that by keeping Boardman Lane as an option they will not only continue to face stiff resistance, but also breed mistrust with the community. Additionally, its presence is likely to further reinforce the public's skepticism over this process, as well as the weight and value the Army places on the feedback from the community."

Members of the Louisville Division of the Army Corps of Engineers, including its commander, Keith Landry, will be in Middletown on Monday to discuss the status of their site selection process with Congresswoman DeLauro, Governor Rell, and other elected officials. This discussion will apparently not include a release of the ranking of the remaining sites, as promised by Colonel Landry and others on several occasions. In a letter to the editor published in the Middletown Press on October 6, Colonel Landry gave his word that the ranking would be released, "I expect the Army to release the "Site Rankings" in November. ... I look forward to returning to Middletown in the near future to release the Army's ranking of the four proposed sites." This was consistent with the statements of the civilian head of the Louisville Division, David Dale, who was quoted in the August 27th edition of the Middletown Press, "Ultimately in about the end of October [we intend] to have a site selected." Colonel Landry is sure to be asked on Monday to justify why he is unable to keep his word that the site selection would be an open one.

The Army Corps of Engineers will host a Press round table at the Inn at Middletown on Monday, November 10th, at 3:00PM. Colonel Landry will give a statement and then answer questions from the Media. The Corps will also release the comments they received from the Pentagon's Army Chief of
Installation Management on the proposed sites and their decisions on the path
forward.

Army to return to town without site ranking

The last time that the Army Corps of Engineers were in Middletown, they held a public hearing to get community input on 4 sites they were considering for an armed forces reserve training center. At this meeting, which occurred September 30th (coverage in the Eye), the time line that they announced for site selection included the following (from their PowerPoint presentation, available HERE):

*17 October - Complete Draft Site Identification Report and forward for approval
*Early November - Release ranked sites; NEPA and real estate process continues
*March 2009 - Contract ready to advertise
*June 2009 - Contract Award

In a call with Diane McCartin (Middletown AFRC project manager) and Ron Elliot (ACE public affairs specialist) today, I asked whether they had made any progress towards the release of ranked sites. To my surprise, Ms. McCartin told me, "I don't believe there is a ranked list of sites." Apparently, no such ranking will be determined until next March or April, when the draft Environmental Assessment will be made available to the public for a 30 day comment period.

In the standard procedure for site selection, the Corps and the clients for the facility (in this case the Guard and Reserve) submit a draft report to a general at the Pentagon. He then responds with a letter to the Corps, in which he approves, disapproves, or requests modifications to the report; this letter essentially provides commands to the Corps for how to proceed with planning for the facility. McCartin and Elliot could not tell me anything about the report that was scheduled to be submitted on October 17th, nor could they say what they expected to hear from the general.

However, the Army Corps will return to Middletown on Monday, November 10th, for a Press event. Mr. Elliot indicated that Colonel Keith Landry, commander of the Louisville District of the Corps, would be joining the civilian staff from the Corps at this press event. Its purpose is to "tell people exactly where we're at in the process [of choosing a site]," according to Mr. Elliot. A media advisory will be sent out on Friday to announce the time, location, and format (press release or press conference) for the event. Neither Mr. Elliot nor Ms. McCartin could be specific about what sort of information would be provided that was not already provided in previous meetings and press conferences.

Ron Klattenberg, councilman and liaison from the city to the Army Corps of Engineers, told me this evening he had received no inkling that the Corps would be coming to Middletown next week. Upon hearing the news of Monday's press event, he said, "It shocks me that the information [about the press event] would come through the media, and not through communications with the mayor." In addition, he said the army had indicated on multiple occasions that they would release the rankings of the sites in early November, and he was outraged at their apparent change of heart.

During the past month, Army consultants have been very busy evaluating the 4 sites under consideration, according to Ms. McCartin. Cultural resources surveys by archeologists, traffic analyses, and wetland surveys are being done on the Bysiewicz Industrial Park, Cucia Park, and Boardman Lane/Ken Dooley Drive parcels. Threatened and endangered species are being looked at on the Bysiewicz and Boardman properties. These studies are either completed, underway, or will be completed in the near future. Ms. McCartin told me that since the Mile Lane property is already owned and operated by the army, their knowledge of that site was extensive enough to preclude the need for additional studies. She said that all of the sites are being given equal consideration, both for the NEPA process and the preliminary development of site plans and building footprints.

Sewers, site remediation and sister cities

There was a touch of melancholy at tonight's Common Council meeting with the return of Councilman Tom Serra who has been at the beside of his son for several weeks after his son was severely injured in an auto accident. Serra thanked fellow Councilors, municipal officials and the support he received from Middletown residents.

In another warm and emotional ceremony, the city welcomed visitors from sister city Melilli, I
Sicily.

Then it was down to the business of debating expenditures for sewer and water line improvements, and for the approval of a resolution providing the Army with preliminary site plans for a new fire station, and regional fire training center on the former Nike base site on Mile Lane. In addition, the Council debated the proposed Parking Study, which includes expenditure on a improved Melilli Plaza parking lot, an expanded municipal parkade.

The sewer and water resolution passed with the expenditure to appear on a town referendum in November.

The parking study funding also passed, with a robust objection by Councilman David Bauer who explained that building a parking garage, considering the problems with fossil fuel that we face, is solving a problem of the past.

Finally, the Council passed a resolution to deliver a proposal to the Federal Government, the Army and the Department of Homeland Security to build a fire station, fire training center, dispatch center and animal shelter on the site. This resolution, of course, is evidence that city leaders would oppose the use of the former Nike site as a location for an Army Reserve Training Center.

Give us an inch and we'll take a Mile

Jen Mahr will file a full report and analysis of the public meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers on the proposed Army Reserve Training Center, tomorrow.

Two important points emerged after the Army promised to have an open process which will involve residents. One, the Army will not share it's legal opinion about why Middletown must be the site for the Army Reserve Training Center. Second, while the Army Corps promises to work with the town's Inland Wetlands and Waterways Commission, they will not apply for a permit to work, nor will abide by any such permit.

In the course of public testimony, it became clear that the Army would search for sites only in Middletown, and might consider brown field sites. Late in the questioning, the Army talked about the former Nike base on Mile Avenue. The site is pledged to the city, which plans to build a fire station and training center there. However, the property has not transferred, and the Army promises to remediate it before transferring it to the city.

Under the circumstances - still owned by the feds, a site of the right proportions that the Army Corps says will be remediated anyway - I stood and suggested it be put immediately at the top of the site selection list.

After the meeting the mayor spoke with me and explained that the Mile Lane site would not be considered, because the state has promised to fund the fire station to the tune of $9 million. If the fire station could not be built on Mile Lane, the city would also have to fund the purchase of an alternate site. In addition, the Mayor said the location is perfect for fire safety coverage in a section of town which needs it, particularly with a new High School.

(More opinion on the meeting at Caterwauled)

Middletown reuse of Mile Lane military base

At the Monday evening meeting of the Mile Lane Base Closure Redevelopment subcommittee of the Council, a plan to use these 23 acres for a variety of functions related to public safety was unanimously approved. The property, at 499 Mile Lane, was first a Nike anti-aircraft base, and more recently an army reserve center.  It is slated to be returned to Middletown under the Base Relocation and Closure act of 2005.  If the proposed use of the land is for Public Safety, the city would receive the land for free.  

The committee considered two possible uses, one which was purely recreational (practise fields, nature walks, and a large number of tennis courts), and one which is focused on Public Safety (an emergency dispatch center, a fire station, an animal shelter, and a regional Fire Training School).  The motivation to use this land for a recreation use was the need for the facilities and its location immediately adjacent to the new High School. The motivation for a public safety use was the need for the facilities, and the fact that the state would cover all the fire station construction and equipping costs if it was built as part of the Regional Fire Training School. 

The unanimous approval by the redevelopment subcommittee now sends the recommendation to Common Council for a vote. This will occur at a September Common Council meeting. The reuse plan will then be submitted to the Army for approval.

The Weeks Events, 8/17 to 8/24

Here are the Public Meetings this week.  Additionally, there will be more tours of the New Middletown High School on 

Tues, Aug. 19:  9 - 11:30 am & 6 - 7:30 pm
Thurs, Aug. 21: 9 - 11:30 am & 6 - 7:30 pm

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 5:30pm- Room 208
Middletown Redevelopment Authority for 499 Mile Lane

• Presentation on possible reuse proposals
• Public Hearing on reuse and disposition of 499 Mile Lane
• Possible Final Recommendation by Authority

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 –5:30 pm – Room 208
Redevelopment Agency - Agenda Summary

• Broad Park/Nehemiah North End Homeownership Update
• Miller-Bridge Update

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 6:30pm - Council Chambers
Boardman Lane Informational Meeting- US Army Corp Hosted Event

Col. Keith Landry, District Commander US Army Corps of Engineers; David Dale, Deputy District Engineer and Diane McCartin, Program Manager will be in town to answer questions, explain project and process for the location of the Army Training facility on Boardman Lane.

Thursday, August 21, 2008 –7:00 pm – Room 208
Conservation Commission - Agenda Summary

• Farm Viability Study
• Public Relations – Conservation Corner
• Open Space Status
• POCD
• Community Garden
• Army Base Reserve Center
• Updating the Trail Guide
• Trail Signs
• CVH
• Vet’s Park
• Grecco Estate Proposal
• Millane Nurseries Land Replacement
• Open Space Donation – River Road
• Kleen Energy