No Eagle training center until many more facts are known

Highlands County commissioners soon will be asked to make a decision on the proposed Eagle National Security Training Center. About the only thing we know for sure about this project is that we don't know very much at all. For this reason, until much more fact-finding is provided, and project developers hold public meetings to answer questions, the commission should not approve anything.

The training center is proposed for 7,696 acres near Venus. It supposedly would provide live-fire training for security personnel, police, fire and EMS, as well as corporate security and soldiers. About 950,000 square feet of building space is planned for dormitories, training buildings, administrative buildings, etc. Proponents say it will employ about 250 people with a student body of 1,000.

It seems that most folks around Venus want no part of the facility, and they are extremely vocal about their dislike of the project. Opponents also include people who don't even live in Highlands County, and we're not sure what their complaint is, other than for possible environmental purposes.

At a meeting Tuesday night, a packed house in the Venus community center made it clear to county commissioner Don Bates that they didn't want this facility here. If there are supporters, and we're sure there are, they weren't present or saying anything. The owner of the property and the attorney representing the people wanting to build the project sat quietly.

What's perfectly clear here is that information must be gathered before county commissioners can make any kind of decision about this. That means proponents must answer lots of questions, provide documentation and face the people who are against them. Our county government should not rubber stamp anything that so many people are against. And they shouldn't turn down something if it benefits the greater good.

We believe the commission will have the wisdom to not approve anything until all the facts are in. At least we hope that's the case.