[NJARC] Frustration at Camp Evans

[Ray Chase]

Ready for an Info Age protest?
First a little background.
In 1993 the Army announced the de-activation of Camp Evans.  In 1995 an 
environmental cleanup was started in order to make the premises 
acceptable to turnover to Wall Township and the Info Age group for use 
as a public resource.  Now, 23 million dollars and 8 years later that 
outcome still eludes us.  In the latest saga of mis-management, the 
electric power was to be turned off for about two weeks in order to make 
a transformer replacement.  The power was turned off in October (with no 
advance warning, even though cottage tours were scheduled) and to date 
has not been restored.  (Waiting for a part!!)  The buildings have no 
heat or de-humidification and if nothing is done soon more serious 
freezing damage will occur to this historic site.  It's amazing how the 
U.S. Army can mobilize for a major war in record time but cannot bring 
this restoration effort to fruition.  Of course it is not the military 
fighting organization that is frustrating progress here but a 
bureaucracy of mainly civil service red taper's and contractors who have 
a vested interest in prolonging the job.  When the job is done, the 
money stops flowing and the civil service types hope they have another 
project to latch onto.
What can we do?
Every month the clean-up powers-to-be hold a Restoration Advisory Board 
(RAB) meeting in wall township to advise the public of  the status of 
the clean-up and turn-over.  I occasionally attend these and it is clear 
that bureaucracy prevails and that dynamic leadership was lost some 
years ago.  Fred Carl has fought these impediments to progress for all 
these years and has worn out his welcome many times over.  He has called 
on some political big guns at times to solve major issues such as loss 
of the sewer system etc. but he can call on these allies only so many 
times. In the meantime, the site continues to deteriorate and stands 
idle when it could be used for the publics betterment.  I am suggesting 
instead a grass roots attack this time at the next RAB meeting if we can 
muster up enough club members to make it a show of force.  It may or may 
not work but it sure cannot hurt.  We can read prepared statements and 
the local press might somehow get tipped off to our protest.
The next RAB meeting is scheduled for Tuesday January 27th in the 
evening at the Wall Township Municipal complex (a mile or so from Camp 
Evans).
Please let me know if you are willing to make this a protest event.  If 
enough of us show up and demonstrate a significant public interest 
support for getting the job done, maybe the bureaucrats will get a 
message or at least get fired up a little.  I can get more particulars 
on the exact time and place of the meeting and maybe plan some 
statements and press releases to use but it won't work unless we can 
have at least 10 to 20 people at the meeting.  I guarantee that if a 
group of interested individuals show up at their meeting, it will rattle 
their cage a bit.
Let me know,  Ray