Resolution 055-1996
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RESOLUTION NO. 055 -1996
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t.A~ RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
- .:;;;.~MMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
:.~:REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PLANS FOR MISSILE
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WHEREAS, the people of Monroe County have strongly supported the national defense
of our nation since the earliest days; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys have provided permanent and temporary bases for the
armed forces of the United States in war and peace; and
WHEREAS, the naval and air facilities at Key West were a vital part of the military
operations to meet the Cuban Missile Crisis: and
WHEREAS, Key West and the Florida Keys have supported and continue to support
counter-drug operations; and
WHEREAS, the people of Monroe County support efforts to defend against the growing
threat from the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction including
chemical, biological and nuclear weapons; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys are an integral part of a fragile and deteriorating
environment and the entirety of Monroe County has been designated an area of critical state
concern: and
WHEREAS, the Congress has established the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to
help protect the endangered marine ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Defense has proposed to utilize one or more sites in the
lower Florida Keys as a launch site for target missiles as a part of the Ballistic Missile Defense
program; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the Commissioners of Monroe County have received briefings
from officials of the Department of Defense and have considered the many economic and
environmental issues involved: NOW THEREFORE
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BE II RESo'L VED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA that
Section 1.
The Mayor and County Commissioners of Monroe County, on behalf of
the people of Monroe County, express their opposition to the proposal to launch target missiles
from land-based facilities in the Florida Keys.
Section 2.
The Mayor and County Commissioners urge and request that the
Secretary of Defense undertake a review of other alternatives including sea-launched and air-
launched options.
Section 3.
The Mayor and the County Commissioners reiterate their support for a
program to defend against the threat of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction and
would support a test program which utilized the Key West Naval Air Station and/or other naval
facilities in the Florida Keys to support a sea-launched or air-launched alternative.
Section 4.
The Mayor is directed to initiate contact with Senator Graham, Senator
Mack, and Congressman Peter Deutsch by whatever means appropriate in order to seek
assistance in pursuing alternatives other than land-launch of target ballistic missiles from the
Florida Keys.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of the Board held on the 21Stday of February
,1996.
Mayor Freeman
Mayor Pro Tem London
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner Douglass
Commissioner Reich
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yes
yes
yes
yes
(SEAL)
ATTEST: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK
By ~1;~~~W
Deputy lerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By Mio~-F~