Will Hill AFB Close? How Concerned Should We Be? -- Roy City Virtual Towne Square

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Date Posted: 09:53:08 02/13/03 Thu
Author: James E. Bohne, Jr.
Subject: Will Hill AFB Close? How Concerned Should We Be?

Official worried about Hill's fate

Next round of base closures could hurt Top of Utah

Thr, Feb 6, 2003

By ANTONE CLARK
Standard-Examiner correspondent

ROY -- The next round of military base closures, scheduled for 2005, will bring the stiffest competition yet, an official with the Utah Defense Alliance warned.

That round of scheduled base realignment and closure will claim some of the mighty and strong, alliance president Vickie McCall said. And while Hill Air Force Base plays a vital role in the Defense Department"s mission, it is hardly secure from a potential closure, she told the Roy City Council Tuesday night.

McCall said the Department of Defense is looking at closing approximately 25 percent of its military bases. And, she said, there are ramifications to this round that are new to the process. For one, she claims the federal government is mum about the key criteria that will be used. McCall suggested that part of the preparation vital to fighting potential closure is looking at possible missions that could be added to Hill, as well as new weapons systems that could be stored here.

"There are no safe bases," McCall said. "All the easy cuts have been made. We"ve been working hard over the past several months to bring players to the table."

Based in Utah since 1940, Hill Air Force Base accounts for approximately 23,000 to 26,000 jobs and an estimated $2.3 billion in economic impact to the Top of Utah, according to McCall. She said closure of the base would be devastating to the region.

In an attempt to be pro-active, McCall said meetings have already been initiated on the federal and state level in regards to Hill"s future. The alliance, based in Northern Utah, is made up of defense contractors, congressional leaders, state legislators, economic development leaders, mayors, county commissioners, educators and business representatives.

McCall said encroachment would be a key issue in the newest round of base realignment and closure. She said communities need to be willing to handle new assignments. Part of it is also looking at how to integrate more people into the local communities, should additional missions be added at the Air Force facility.

If the base was slated for closure, she said it would be particularly devastating for Hill given some of the environmental concerns.

"You know once they close the base, they won"t open it again," she said.

McCall also said the UDA will need to come up with funds to hire a Washington lobbyist to protect Hill.

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