RES 68-08 LOCATION FOR MISSILE SYSTEMRESOLUTION
A resolution of the Town of Winslow opposing location of the
proposed Sentinel A.B.M. missile system on Bainbridge Island
for the reason that such a program would be detrimental to the
health, safety and welfare of the Town of Winslow
PREAMBLE:
The recent announcement that approximately 300 acres of Bainbridge
Island property will be utilized by the United States Government, Department of
the Army, for installation and operation of the Sentinel A. B. M. system of
nuclear missiles and that after construction of the facility it will employ 600
to 650 persons, has created the threat of severe problems and dangers to
Bainbridge Island and the Town of Winslow, Although the facility will be outside
the corporate limits of Winslow, its citizens and residents will be equally
affected, along with the rest of Bainbrid. ge Island. Our specific objections to
such an installation are as follows:
1. Public safety. Although the statistical chance of an accidental
nuclear explosion occurring at the proposed site is small, the fact remains that
it is not an impossibility. Bainbridge Island is a growing suburban area, and
compared to other nearby areas is densely populated. The location of nuclear
warheads should, in our opinion, be where there is the lowest density of population
to minimize the risk of injury or death.
|
property owners who will have to approve additional excess levies. Such a
situation would make it difficult for other municipal oorporations to secure
voter approval for public projects.
4. Availability of other sites. The Secretary of the Army reported
to Congress on November 15, 1967, in a publication entitled "Sentinel Systems -
Potential Sites to be Surveyed," at page 35:
~'In most cases, sites being considered are located on Government-
owned lands."
Additional Government-owned land in sparsely populated areas is or could be
made available for use by the Army and should be thoroughly explored before a
final decision is made. We refer specifically to Fort Warden near Port Townsend,
Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island, both of which are former federally-owned properties
now owned by the state of Washington but largely undeveloped as parks, and
Bangor Naval facility in Kitsap County. Also available is Indian Island, Jefferson
County, which is owned by the United States Navy, with bridge access and all
utilities available. Other locations undoubtedly exist.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOI_.VED by the Town of Winslow that
it would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the
Town of Winslow if the proposed Sentinel A, B.M. system of nuclear missiles
is constructed on Bainbridge Island and that another site away from densely
populated areas be selected.
ADOPTED at a special meeting of the Council of the Town of
-3-
[ |
Z. Public services. The water supply on Bainbridge Island is
limited and, as more and more people arrive to make their homes here, the
water table continues to drop. Eventually, water will have to be brought from
the mainland in order to meet the requirements. It is possible that the sudden
influx of 600 or more additional families could force this to occur immediately
at a time when the tax base of Bainbridge Island is insufficient to defray this
cost. Undoubtedly, the increase in population will cause substantial construction
of homes and apartment buildings within the corporate limits of ~Vinslow because
of our municipal water system and sewage disposal facility. Both of these
facilities are now operating at almost maximum capacity, and any sudden increase
in demand could cause a failure or require vastly increased facilities to be paid
for by the existing residents of V~inslow. As is the case with many military
installations, this facility will become obsolete in a relatively short period of
time, leaving V~inslow as well as Bainbridge Island with substantial overdeveloped
public facilities being paid for by the remaining permanent residents.
3. Schools, The Bainbridge Island s~hool system is already over-
crowded and the impact of 1,000 or more children suddenly thrust upon ~s is
incalculable. Federal impact funds cannot eliminate this problem because of
the state formula for distribution. Facilities will have to be constructed
immediately, and although the new homes built for the employees of the missile
base will add to the tax base, this increase generally lags two or more years
behind the need for schools. The burden of construction will fall upon the present
Winslow on this 26th day of December, 1968.
Robert W. McKisson
Mayor
Attest:
Franci Saul /
s
Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Winslow
-4-