Columbus: brass tacks at Ft. Benning BRAC session

Military and civilian officials at BRAC session.
(Dave Bender)
Over 100 Georgia and Alabama officials, and federal and military representatives met in Columbus on Monday to discuss the army's planned Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC).

The army plans to move an armor school, currently based at Ft. Knox, KY to Ft. Benning within the next three to five years.

The comprehensive morning session met at Columbus State University's Cunningham Center for Leadership. On the agenda were schools, housing, health care, transportation, public services, ecological, economic impact, as well as funding issues related to the move.

Colonel Keith Lovejoy, Fort Benning Garrison Commander of Fort Benning, told GPB News they planned to cover issues of anticipated base growth: “in terms of soldiers coming to the base; what kind of construction we're going to do; effects on the local roads, the networks... the different utilities... basically just making sure the community is aware of what's coming and when it's going to be here – and then also, to answer some of the concerns of the local community.”

The army expects over 30,000 troops, and their families, contractors and service providers to move into the Columbus and Chattahoochee Valley area.

Army seen backing Ft. Benning armor center eco-study

An environmental study on constructing armor school facilities at Ft. Benning, that would bring a major influx of military personnel to the area has been released to the public.

The study, part of the military's Base Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendations include relocating the Army's armor center, currently based at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

An estimated 30,000 troops and family, civilian employees and contractors would be relocated to the Columbus area.

Linda Veenstra, environmental counsel for Ft. Benning's Judge Advocate's office says that while the project would cause some negative impact, the army was taking steps to limit the damage.

“We've tried to avoid areas that we know have important resources on them, whether it be federally listed species or wetlands, or historic properties such as archaeological sites.”

Construction could start late this summer, pending army approval, base commander Maj. Gen. Walt Wojdakowski told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

The Department of the Army, however, has yet to officially approve the Environmental Impact Statement document.

A public discussion on the study is set for May 10 at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, and copies are available at several local libraries and online.