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Navy, govt. group holds inaugural meeting
Friday, Feb. 27, 2009
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At a jam-packed meeting of community leaders, U.S. Navy and Charles County officials kicked off a new effort Wednesday to cooperate on development issues and ensure the longevity of the Indian Head and Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Centers.
The first meeting of the South Potomac Civilian-Military Community Relations Council opened with breakfast at the Waldorf Jaycees Community Center and speeches by local and Navy officials.
Officials see the council as a way to plan for future projects, such as an expansion of the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in Newburg, so they don't encroach on Navy operations in the area.
Commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D), who is serving as the first civilian co-chairman of the council, greeted the crowd of more than 140 by thanking military co-chairwoman Capt. Catie Hanft for "the idea of partnering with area governments and municipalities to create an open dialogue that will be beneficial to us all."
The council's goal, according to a Navy statement, is to encourage better communication between civilian and military officials in the region. The executive committee of the council will meet quarterly, co-chaired by the current commanding officer of Naval Support Activity South Potomac and an elected local official. Hanft will serve as the first military chair.
The civilian chair will rotate between the governments of Charles County, Indian Head, King George County, Va., and Colonial Beach, Va. Cooper will serve as the first civilian chairman.
The council will also hold larger quarterly meetings with local business leaders and state and federal delegations.
The council could be critical in negotiating the expansion of the Nice Bridge as well as future expansions of Mirant's Morgantown power plant and commercial development in Indian Head.
According to Cooper, the Navy officials proposed the council idea in July 2008. The Navy missed an opportunity last summer to comment on the construction approval for the Mirant coal barge pier, which is being built in the sightlines of Dahlgren's firing range. Cooper noted that the county has spent much taxpayer money in efforts to save local bases from closure, and does not want unintended consequences to sabotage those efforts.
"If we encroach on the base while trying to save the base, we'll lose the base," Cooper said. "I think [Hanft] had a great idea getting us together."
