Large crowd gathers for meeting at Holton
Local citizens ask questions about homeland security facility
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A large crowd gathered at the Holton Community Building last week to find out more about the new urban warfare training center at Muscatatuck.

Many in the crowd had questions concerning the new use of the facility located near Butlerville that used to be the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center.

Throughout the meeting, questions from the audience revolved around job availability, additional noise from aircraft and explosions, exactly what the facility would be used for, how would it impact those living next to it, and would having the training base in the area pose a safety threat to residents in terms of terrorism.

Keynote speaker Brigadier General Clif Tooley gave an overview presentation of what the facility was about, future plans and answered as many questions as he could.

"There is no place like this today in the department of defense," the general noted, referring to the sprawling acreage at Muscatatuck. He sited "unique opportunities" that the facility offered the military saying the structures were perfect for military maneuvers. A linking tunnel system, hospital, school and much more made the area a "premier training site."

Saying events of September 11, 2001, have changed the way the military operates, General Tooley noted that training has had to change. When initial troops went into Iraq, it was quickly noted that training must be
done in a different manner. The general said the facility at Muscatatuck provides every scenario the soldiers would encounter.

"God placed Muscatatuck here for this purpose," he noted as he expounded on the many possibilities and promises the property holds to train military personnel for urban warfare. He noted that existing training sites have been built up around so much it restricts training maneuvers. Therefore, the military will be working closely with property owners surrounding the Muscatatuck facility. The military wants the surrounding area to remain rural farmland - not developed into subdivisions bringing larger population. He called the land surrounding the facility "bumper zones" saying urban encroachment is a threat to the training endeavors.

A landowner, Edgar Mathews, asked about the possibility of the Muscatatuck project becoming like Jefferson Proving Ground was many years ago. He said, "I had to move out of JPG when I was 11 years old and I haven't gotten over it yet." His family was four-generation farmers and he was concerned that the government would again up-root him.

General Tooley noted that the state is presently surveying the boundaries of Muscatatuck - something that has never been done. He said there will be quite a bit of activity that those owning adjoining property will notice.

To a question asked from the audience about the safety hazard of the jets flying so low, General Tooley noted that they are flying in compliance with regulations. He did say there will be increased air activity and residents can expect to see several Black Hawk helicopters and other aircraft in the skies during their maneuvers. He further noted that training has begun at the facility on a small scale, but they (the Indiana National Guard) will not take full possession of the property until July.

Every month a major exercise will take place at Muscatatuck that will last for two weeks, the general noted. To the noise level question, the general said there will certainly be explosions, but he hoped most of the noise would be absorbed by the spacious facility itself.

General Tooley laid out a ten-year plan that will cost $139M for planned infrastructure upgrades at the
facility. One thing will be a road that will be a by-pass around the existing roads now. A question about the roads being used by civilians was brought up. The general said the roads would remain open now and only closed when certain exercises were being done. Upgrading US 50 is a future project, making the road a four-lane instead of the present two-lane that runs between the split at Milan and Seymour.

What economic impact will the new training center have on surrounding areas? That remains to be seen, but General Tooley said this will be Indiana's 17th largest company and the largest in the southern part of the state. Projected economic impact figures have been given at $176 million.

Contractors will be hired for a variety of things including food service, laundry, maintenance, construction and much more.

General Tooley sited a small "mom and pop" pizza place that is in close proximity to Camp Atterbury. He said their business has grown from a few pizzas a day to several dozen. "We do feed the soldiers," he commented, adding, "but I guess they want something different, like pizza."

Other reports have noted there will be approximately 4,000 soldiers per month in and out of the training facility.

"Will people who worked at Muscatatuck before the change have first dibs on jobs?" was a question asked. General Tooley said he could not speak as to who the jobs would be given to. He noted that "outside" contractors would be doing the hiring, not the military, for the civilian job openings. He did say that at a later time there would be more information about job opportunities.

Some residents felt their questions of employment weren't fully answered, but said they will be watching for more information and hopefully the promises of great economic impact will impact them as well.

To the concern that the area's safety would be compromised due to the facility's maneuvers, the general said that it was not a target for terrorism.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

General Brigadier Clif Tooley of the Indiana National Guard gave a presentation of the future of what used to be the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center at the Holton Community Building last Wednesday evening. The facility will now be used to train military personnel for urban warfare.