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Council approves two military training license agreements amid dissent
Summary
The council approved two intergovernmental license agreements allowing U.S. military training on Metro property at 1414 County Hospital Road; one council member voted no and two abstained on each measure.
The Metropolitan Council on May 5 approved two intergovernmental license agreements authorizing the United States to enter property at 1414 County Hospital Road for limited military training purposes.
Council member Benedict announced a firm opposition. "I'm an absolute no on this resolution," Council member Benedict said during discussion of RS 20 25 11 87, adding later when the second but similar resolution was presented, "this vote is not about punishing our service members. This is about telling the leaders within the US Army to do that work outside of Davidson County."
Vice Chair Rutherford argued against using the council vote to restrict training and cautioned that denying access could harm individual service members' training opportunities. "We shouldn't necessarily punish the individual service member, and limit in any way their training and capability," Rutherford said.
Several other council members, including Council member Hill and Vice Chair Rutherford, spoke in favor of allowing the training to proceed, emphasizing support for individual service members. Council member Hill said the training benefit to service members was an important consideration: "This is an opportunity for our military people to train. And by not allowing them to do that, that harms them."
Both resolutions — RS 20 25 11 87 and RS 20 25 11 88 — were moved and passed. The transcript records each motion carried with reported tallies of "7 in favor, 1 against, 2 abstaining." The measures were described as routine annual approvals that the council has considered in prior years.
Council members asked administration staff whether there were any unforeseen consequences to denying the requests; administration responded it was not aware of any specific punishment or penalty if the council did not approve the agreements. The council proceeded to vote and the measures passed with the recorded tallies.
The approvals permit limited military training on the specified Metro-owned property under the terms of the intergovernmental license agreements. The transcript does not include the agreements' detailed terms or a schedule for training events.
