INDIAN ISLAND — Naval Magazine Indian Island’s commanding officer, Capt. Jonathan Kurtz, on Wednesday took under advisement Port Townsend Mayor Mark Welch’s proposal that Navy officials answer basic community questions on Port Townsend’s cable TV access Channel 47.
The proposal was made during a private meeting about community relations between Navy and local government officials at the Indian Island munitions storage facility on Wednesday.
Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson said after the meeting that he expects Kurtz will take the request to his superiors.
“I think we could pull something very positive out of a TV program,” said Johnson.
Some people of Jefferson County have requested a public forum with Navy officials.
Public interest in the Navy facility has heightened since the Navy last year announced its intentions to dock up to two nuclear-powered submarines at the Naval Magazine’s munitions-loading pier.
The additional sub moorage comes with docking space running out at Bangor Sub Base on the Kitsap County shores of Hood Canal.
The Indian Island pier has undergone more than $1 million in electrical upgrades that will allow a submarine to shut down its on-board power system while docked within eye shot of the city across Port Townsend Bay.
