Montgomery, AL – The top military official at the Army's Redstone Arsenal told Alabama legislators that changes under way at the Huntsville base will have a major economic impact on Alabama.
Maj. Gen. James Myles, commander of the Army Aviation and Missile Command, became the first Redstone Arsenal commander to speak to the Legislature since 1959
Myles told lawmakers that the decision of the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to shift three major Army command headquarters to Redstone by 2011 would add at least 5,000 new employees to Redstone Arsenal. He said the realignment would cause a need for more roads, schools and other infrastructure in the Huntsville area.
Huntsville area officials have said they expect to ask the Legislature to provide $2 million to help the area with the transition. But Myles said he did not come to Montgomery to talk about money.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)