Aug 27, 2024

Leaders want a meeting with the Army on Trooper Gate

Posted Aug 27, 2024 1:28 AM

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Local elected officials are pushing for a meeting with Fort Riley officials to talk about the Army's decision to close the Trooper Gate entrance to the Post. There have been impacts on issues ranging from busing to economics with local businesses.

Junction City Commissioner Richard Pinaire told a joint city - county - school district meeting at the C.L. Hoover Opera House that he would like to have the discussion with the military. Board of Education member Ron Johnson noted Trooper gate would be better over Grant Gate which is currently being used to transport traffic onto and off Post.

In addition to local elected officials representing the different commissions at a meeting with the Army, County Commissioner Keith Ascher observed it might be beneficial to have some congressional staff members in attendance. "We just need to have conversations, communications with Fort Riley and all the interested parties. It's probably not our call. It's more Fort Riley's call but I think they need to hear from the local community how it's affecting us and what we think."

There was a consensus to have the school district try to arrange the meeting.

While not opposed to a conversation with Fort Riley, County Commission Chair Trish Giordano said the commanding general has pretty much indicated that there is not enough manpower to run Trooper gate and a change in the decision to close it is not happening. County Commissioner Alex Tyson added missions dictate what happens on Post and decisions made on Fort Riley.

Also revealed during the discussion was that the Army planned to revaluate the Trooper Gate decision after 90 days.

Commissioner Pinaire stated part of revaluation is information and called for a meeting in about one month. He also noted that a lot of veterans are not happy about the decision to close Trooper Gate.