PORT TOWNSEND — Naval Magazine Indian Island’s commanding officer will hit public access airwaves in an effort to better bridge community relations between the Naval Magazine and Port Townsend-Jefferson County.
Plans to tape and air three Port Townsend Television Channel 47 segments at the Blaine Street public access studio are being arranged, a joint effort between Mayor Mark Welch and Naval Magazine’s commanding officer, Capt. Jonathan Kurtz.
At issue are activities at the ammunition station across the bay from Port Townsend, as well as plans to tie up overflow submarines from the Bangor sub base.
None of the submarines will have nuclear armaments, the Navy has said.
“We’re starting to put some meat to the [TV] plan and actually are starting to talk about putting together a calendar,” said Chris Haley, Navy public affairs officer based at the Navy Northwest Region offices in Silverdale.
Broadcast arrangements
Haley and Welch struck up talks Monday over making PTTV broadcast arrangements.
Haley said Rear Adm. William French, commander of Naval Region Northwest based in Silverdale, recently gave Kurtz the go-ahead to arrange and tape the PTTV programs, which are carried over Jefferson County cable TV systems.
“We’re planning on addressing many of the questions out in the public that are within our purview,” said Haley.
All operational activities, safety matters, hazardous materials handling, emergency management and all environmental issues that have come up would be addressed in three broadcast sessions, he said.
Matters left to Congress would be left to the elected policymakers, he said.
