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OLF bill clears committee
Published Monday, April 6, 2009
RALEIGH – The first hurdle has been cleared.
Earlier this week, the North Carolina House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that addresses the OLF (Outlying Landing Field) issue in Gates County.
As reported by Gates County Commissioner Kenneth Jernigan at Wednesday’s meeting of the board, the committee endorsed House Bill 613. That legislation amends the state’s Federal Reservation Statute to read that “the consent of the state is not granted to the United States for acquisition, by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, of land in the state for the purpose of establishing an outlying landing field in a county or counties which have no existing military base for the purpose of supporting and training of aircraft squadrons stationed at or transient to military bases or military stations located outside of the state.”
Jernigan said the bill will now make its way to the Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. If approved there, the measure goes back to the House floor for a vote.
“People keep asking me what are we doing about keeping the OLF out of Gates County; well this is what we’re doing,” Jernigan said. “This is what is being done at the highest level of state government to keep the OLF out of Gates County.”
He continued, “I was there in Raleigh during the committee meeting on Tuesday. I was so pleased to hear that of the 25 committee members voting, no one objected to the wording of the bill.”
Jernigan said the bill effectively creates another hoop the Navy has to jump through.
“The Navy can still come here and make an offer to purchase our land, but with this bill the state of North Carolina can say no,” he said. “If the Navy wants to force the issue from there, the state attorney general can step in. He will defend the state and Gates County in this issue, and he will do that at no cost to Gates County.”
Jernigan added that State Senator Ed Jones has introduced similar legislation on his side of the NC General Assembly.
Late last month, two members of the North Carolina House Representatives, Annie Mobley of Ahoskie and Bill Owens of Elizabeth City, signed on as primary sponsors of House Bill 613.
“In short, what this bill does is gives the Navy another hurdle they must jump over,” Rep. Mobley said. “Not that it will deter them any, but maybe this will force the Navy to keep their noise in Virginia rather than dumping it on us.”
The Navy is seeking to build an OLF, a military aircraft practice facility, in either Gates or Camden County. Three other possible OLF sites are in Virginia, one each in Southampton, Sussex and Surry counties.
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Comments
Posted by rebels2 (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can not think of any reason that the people of Gates County would not want a OLF . Maybe one reason is that they do not want anything new comming to the area . Or is it that the jet noise may upset their deer hunting or the growing of their drugs .My father was a pilot in the Navy and I am sure if he was still alive today ,he would welcome the Navy to the area with open arms . I hear the noise from jets (Navy ) everyday .I do not complain about it .To me and to many it is the sound of freedom .So get you head out of the sand and wake up .
Posted by Shtogun (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can think of a good many reasons why the freedom loving people of Gates county would like to stay true to their Southern roots by upholding and defending their agrarian and rural culture from an oppressive federal government.
While I certainly applaud your patriotic sentiments, I cannot support the further expansion of a statist war-machine, especially when the Government is raping the paychecks of our grandchildren just to stay afloat.
We need to return to the foreign policy of our fathers...reduce the policing of the world, shrink this massive federal government, and preserve the dignity of rural communities.
It's talk of this sort that "sounds like freedom" ... not loud and oppressive "Jet-noise."
Posted by drdtrucking (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My father served his country by way of the navy for 30 years. He to is opposed of the landing field coming to Gates County. We moved to Gates County 30 years ago from Norfolk Va to get away from the noise, crime and fast life that a city brings. For the past 20 years I have ejoyed relaxing on my boat on the Chowan River. I have enjoyed looking out my window and watching the deer enjoy my apple tree. I have enjoyed going to bed at night and falling to sleep with sound of the frogs. My life in Gates County for the past 30 years have been quiet and serene. Forgive me but I would like to keep it that way. As big as this earth is, the Navy to be sure could find a place where it would not affect people, animals, and the environment.
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