PORT TOWNSEND — A top Navy official has rejected a proposal by two Democratic Jefferson County commissioners to conduct a public forum over operations at Naval Magazine Indian Island.
“While we appreciate this opportunity and desire to keep the lines of communications open, we prefer to continue our current outreach program,” Rear Adm. William D. French states in a letter to County Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend.
French is commander of Navy Region Northwest based in Silverdale.
The outreach program began shortly after the Indian Island ordnance base late last year announced that about $1.5 million would be spend to upgrade the ammunition wharf with a power system to occasionally moor submarines that could not be tied up at Bangor in Kitsap County.
Conventional weapons
The submarines would be loaded and unloaded with conventional weapons, such as guided Tomahawk missiles and torpedoes. No nuclear weapons are involved, Navy officials have said.
French said Capt. Jonathan Kurtz, Naval Magazine Indian Island commanding officer, has spoken to many community groups and civic organizations in the Port Townsend area as part of that public outreach effort.
“Over the last five months, he has participated in Veterans Day in Port Ludlow, spoken before the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Port Townsend Rotary Club, various chambers of commerce, the East Jefferson Rotary Club, the Bremerton Navy League and the Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary,” French wrote.
Kurtz this year led elected officials, community leaders and the media on a tour of the installation, explaining its mission and operations.
Kurtz “fully briefed” elected officials, who were encouraged to ask questions, French said, adding:
“We believe that these public engagements have been quite successful in providing information to the citizens of Jefferson County.”