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| Sen. Elizabeth Dole meets with local officials in Elizabeth city.
(barbara j. woerner | special to the virginian-pilot) |
By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
ELIZABETH CITY
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole was not ready to publicly join the overwhelming opposition to the possibility of a Navy airfield in northeastern North Carolina after meeting with local officials here Wednesday.
But she did say she would oppose sites not supported by the local community.
"Today is my listening period," the North Carolina Republican said after the closed meeting. "We're trying to find out what's in their (the Navy's) plans."
Responding to reporters' questions, she said, "Stay tuned."
She took a similar stance in the meeting, said Mack Nixon, chairman of the Perquimans County Board of Commissioners.
"She's supporting us more than Sen. (Richard) Burr is at this time," Nixon said, referring to North Carolina's other U.S. senator, also a Republican.
Five northeastern counties - Camden, Hertford, Perquimans, Gates and Chowan - have passed resolutions opposing an outlying landing field in the region. Currituck and Pasquotank counties could vote on resolutions opposing the airfield on Monday.
Officials from each of the counties unanimously opposed the OLF in Wednesday's meeting, Dole said.
After Wednesday's meeting, Cecil Perry, chairman of the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners, said the county opposes an OLF in the area.
Currituck Commissioners Owen Etheridge and Gene Gregory went to the meeting to offer different points of view, according to County Manager Dan Scanlon. After new sites were announced last month, Currituck County declared that it was neutral and voted 3-2 on Oct. 1 to remove a resolution of opposition from its agenda.
Navy and North Carolina officials announced last month six new potential sites for an OLF. The new sites come in addition to five others named in 2001. Twenty-two sites in North Carolina and Virginia now have been suggested.
The Navy should have notified counties sooner about the locations, Dole said. State and Navy officials began searching for new OLF sites in May but didn't announce the locations until September, surprising local officials.
Last week, with Dole's backing, the U.S. Senate nixed funding for the OLF site in Washington County in its defense spending bill. The House version also blocked funding in June for an OLF in Washington County. A full vote is expected by mid-November.
The Navy maintains that the Washington County site is its first choice, said Navy spokesman Ted Brown. The Navy owns 2,730 acres in Washington County but hasn't bought land there for at least three years, Brown said. The Navy has no plans to divest itself of the land, he said.
"That's something we'll address if and when that situation arises," he said.
Of two new sites in Camden County, one borders Blackwater USA property and the other borders a tract that was proposed for a mega-landfill. Two others are in Gates County and the other two are in southeastern North Carolina. The Navy plans to decide by Nov. 15 if any of the new sites will be studied further.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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Overly sensitive NC resident
Well I guess I am one of the 'overly sensitive, undeserved residents'. I see you are in Virginia Beach, so are you one of the poor little, 'I bought my house and now want to get rid of the noise' residents'? Of course we don't want your jets. Why should we take on the noise to make a few happy in another state and have no benefit. And not having the OLF in the NE NC areas will certainly not cause us to decline into obscurity. The base in Virginia does nothing for us economically . It is a VA base, keep your OLF in VA! Enjoying my eternally quiet evening.
Come on now Senator, let's be honest
"We're trying to find out what's in their (the Navy's) plans." Well Senator, maybe you and your NC political cronies ought to let your constiutuents know what's really in your plans. Every objection raised by NC politicians would quickly fade away if the Navy were to relocate a majority of Oceana squadrons along with the OLF to NC. You know it's true. We should close the book on the whole issue by relocating MCAS Cherry Point and its squadrons elsewhere, then build the OLF anywhere but in NC. This way the overly sensitive, and undeserved, residents of the potential OLF sites in NC could at least enjoy their economic decline into obscurity while watching an eternally quiet evening sunset free from any further government dollars.
Whatever
You want to see a lawsuit? Fly a jet over my house like they did at the beach. Want to see an unemployed commisioner? Lead the Navy on with these worthless votes. Owen Etheridge and Gene Gregory have caused enough trouble. They have also made enough empty promises. Ruining your community is not patriotic.
Good for Mrs. Dole
In the face of shrinking greenspace and wetlands, why would anyone want a brand-new runway carved out of their backyard? MAKE the Navy use existing facilities. Rotate the fighters from place to place. Share the wealth. Fentress. Oceana. Fort Pickett. Fort A.P Hill. Pax River. NAS Norfolk, practically a ghost town on the week-ends. Eustis. Langley. Richmond International, which just had their F-16 wing move to Langley, and we love the jets here. Anchor the Kennedy in ChesBay. Why do we always think in terms of paving over another rural county?