After the
perfunctory prayer (Ed Richardson), pledge, and reading of the minutes,
Col. McLaughlin was invited to speak to the commissioners.
He tried to make it more like was speaking to (with) the "people
of Trinidad," using fraises like, "you all" but everyone did a pretty
good job of redirecting things in the direction of the commissioners. He
first asked to read the covenant, but Commissioner Hill responded
that, "We already know what it says." McLaughlin then explained
that it is intended to build a partnership with the community which
is, "on the verge of signing." He also stated that they are
trying to do this all over the state and that covenants have alread
been signed with Co. Springs and Pueblo, (my research indicates
that Pueblo has not signed.) He said, "Is the nation at war,
or is military at war?" I thought that was a pretty good question,
although I would replace "military" with "military-industrial complex."
He defined his goals as two-fold; a balance between quality training
and benefiting the community. He acknowledged that the people in
Las Animas County ARE patriotic, and that the Army doesn't want
to imply otherwise. He reiterated that the covenant has nothing
to do with Pinon Canyon expansion.
Next the
commissioners made their statements in response. Commissioner Vigil
spoke of his strong support for the military and everything that
they do. He recalled how he as a Viet Nam veteran didn't feel the
support of public or even the President and how bad that was. He
said that he agrees with everything that is stated in the covenant,
but would go along with the decision of the board as a whole.
Commissioner
Louden ask, Since you've acknowledged our patriotism, why do you
need for us to sign a covenant to that effect?" Col. McLaughlin
responded that it was to, "further our solidarity."
Commissioner
Hill said, "Get rid of the waiver, then maybe we can consider something
like this."
McLaughlin
claimed that he is working with policy-makers in Washington to get
the waiver cancelled, but claimed that it is complicated and difficult,
working with the buerocracy. In response, Hill said that because
of past experience there is a lack of trust and that McLaughlin
should share the paper trail of interactions that he has with
the policy makers.
Louden
pointed out that the brass at Fort Carson come and go and that we've
heard similar assurances in the past, but that the next guy that
takes over command is not bound by the promises of his predicesor.
McLaughlin acknowledged that and said that such things have to become
official policy. He kept trying to insert the economic element
inserting statements like, "We have to spend money when we train,
but where is that money going to go?"
At this
point Vigil brought up the fact that he asked for a resolution to
be drafted in support of the troops, explaining that it was a middle
road, better than doing nothing. The resolution was read. It was
too pro-military for my taste and said nothing against Pinon Canyon
expansion or against the linking of support for the troops and economic
benefits.
Hill stated
that historically, relations with the Army have been a one-way street
with everything being to the benefit of the Army. Louden compared
it to a guy dating a girl, sweet-talking her, making promises until
he, "gets what he wants."
Quite a
number of people in the audience then spoke. Most everyone was careful
to speak TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Jerry Winford
mostly made the point that it's pretty obvious that the covenant boils
down to being all about Pinon Canyon expansion.
Lon summarized
the PCEOC position well and was then asked what he thought about
the commissioners passing a resolution rather than signing the covenant.
He said he thought that would be good. (I was sorry that he took
that position since the resolution that the commissioners had drafted
was not strong enough or clear enough in my opinion. But we had
decided that, as a group we wanted the County and City to pass resolution
rather than sign on to the Army-authored covenant.)
Stan White
read from the CAB EIS, statements that there wouldn't any significant
economic impact.
I simply
read read to the commissions the quote by McLaughlin to the effect
that expansion is NOT off the table, and that his work on improved
community relations has the purpose of getting everyone on the same
page so that when they need additional land things will go better
for them.
Mary Ellen
White- Spoke very passionately and honestly, sort of shaming the
Col. for trying to manipulate us. She urged the commissioners not
to sign anything, including a resolution.
McLaughlin
was then invited to respond. He essentially restated his line that
he's only interested in training at the current site and that the
training translates into dollars to Trinidad.
I sort
of forgot to take notes beyond this point, but I do remember Torres
and Hill (not the commissioner) speaking. they said that Las Animas
County is different from other places where covenants have been
signed because of the dark cloud that hangs over us. Hill also urged
that the commissions don't sign anything including a resolution.
And that's
about it. I came away with a strong feeling that the commissioners
won't be signing the covenant, and maybe not a resolution either.
There was
a good crowd evenly balanced between ranchers and trinidad people.
There were representatives from the City and the Chamber, but they
didn't say anything. Everyone who spoke was against the covenant.