Another round of base closings is possible in 2015

BRAC, that acronym that sends chills down the spines of people in military communities across the nation, was among the subjects discussed this week during Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce’s annual trip to Washington, D.C.

After meeting with Pen-tagon officials Tuesday, the group of 22 local leaders met Wednesday with members of the state’s congressional delegation.

Mike Cooper, military liaison for the city of Enid, said the word on Capitol Hill is another Base Realignment and Closure round is expected in 2015.

“Nothing is set in concrete,” said Cooper, the group’s discussion topic leader for military affairs, “but that is what everyone is saying.”

The last BRAC round came in 2005 and saw Vance pick up additional missions, such as Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals and the relocation of National Guard and Army Reserve units to the Armed Forces Reserve Center now under construction on the base.

Enid continues to do everything possible, Cooper said, to keep Vance safe during future BRAC rounds.

“What that means for us in terms of long-term planning, we just have to make sure we do what we’ve always done, pay attention to our infrastructure and quality of life issues,” said Cooper.

Cooper credited Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., with helping propel Vance’s infrastructure from the back of the pack in Air Education and Training Command to near the front.

“The reason we have succeeded is the community, state and our congressional delegation working together,” Cooper said. “All the infrastructure improvements to Vance in recent years have been congressional add-ons. Those aren’t easy to come by in today’s budget world.”

Cheryl Evans was discussion topic leader for education. She highlighted the $99.5 million school bond issue approved by local voters earlier this month.

“That was huge,” said Cooper. “Enid stepped up to the plate and did the right thing for itself.”

“One overriding message in our discussions was that, despite the fact we are struggling as a national economy, Enid is investing in itself,” said Jon Blankenship, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. He cited the bond issue and the fact Enid soon will break ground on a $40 million waste water treatment facility as evidence.

Brent Kisling and Curt Roggow led the discussion on wind energy development in northwest Oklahoma. Talk centered on keeping lines of communication open between wind energy developers and base officials, because of windmills’ potential impact on Vance’s airspace.

“Leadership out at the base needs to know where windmills are going,” Cooper said. “They are not against it. They know it is a good natural resource to develop wind energy.”

Dan Ohnesorge and Jimmy Stallings discussed transportation issues with the Oklahoma delegation, focusing on the status of the foreign trade zone application for Enid Woodring Regional Airport, as well as airport infrastructure improvements.

“All our topic discussion leaders did an outstanding job,” Blankenship said.

Chamber representatives also expressed their opposition to proposed “cap and trade” legislation limiting emissions, which Blankenship called “a bad bill all the way around.” They also urged lawmakers to support modifying the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to provide veterans’ money for non-college educational opportunities, such as those provided by Oklahoma’s CareerTech system.