Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Some Answers May Come At Local Meeting June 28
Stage I of Kimball's Titan I Missile Static Display remains at Gotte Park in Kimball. Stage II and the shroud are currently at the Kimball landfill due to weather damage and neglect. A meeting to discuss the landmark's future will be held 6 p.m. Friday, June 28, at the Eagles Club downtown.
A fond memory for many in the community, the Titan I Missile at Gotte Park, has seen its better days. Though in a state of disrepair, members of the community are ready and willing to move forward to find a solution.
A meeting has been arranged for this Friday, June 28, at the Eagles at 6 p.m. to discuss the next step for this community wide project. Everyone who is interested is invited to come.
The question remains if the community of Kimball can come together to create a plan of action in the repair of the missile or another possible solution. The missile is currently in a crippled state with only Stage I remaining at Gotte park, while Stage II and the shroud are at the Kimball Landfill.
The City of Kimball acquired the Titan I Missile on June 21, 1967, from the National Museum of the Air Force (NMUSAF) Riverside, Ohio. During the 1980s members of the community even petitioned against the removal of the historical attraction, gaining over 600 signatures.
In October of 1990 the City of Kimball was notified that the structural panels of the static display contained magnesium thorium, a hazardous material. With this information, the steps to restore the appearance of the missile came to a fast halt due to the magnesium thorium. According the United States Air Force the panels were radioactive but are not harmful to human health or the environment.
Also during 1990 the inspections of the static display revealed rusted bolts and damage to Stage I that was attributed to Mother Nature.
Just five years later all USAF static displays were then required to have thorium panels removed in the United States and Canada by the National Regulatory Commissions' guidance on radioactive materials. At that point the City of Kimball was given three options: completely dismantle and remove the display, reconfigure into a horizontal display, or restore the display. Kimball chose to restore their beloved historical attraction. However, the restoration did not prevent the loss of the structural integrity caused by the removal of the panels and only a few years later in 1999 Stage II and the Shroud fell from the display.
In 1999 the City of Kimball was on a hunt once again for possible solutions to repair the missile, but found no replacement stages or components available in the federal inventory. The NMUSAF provided two options, to repair the original pieces or fabricate fiberglass replicas with repair suggestions from the NMUSAF. Removal efforts were discussed in 2009 but never became of anything as the City petitioned to retain the static display.
Kimball contacted the 90th Missile Wing for assistance in November of 2017. The 90th Missile Wing nominated 1st Lt Paul Crowley, 1st Lt Allegra Missildine, 1st Lt Rebecca Mitchem, 1st Lt Nikolas Ramos. POC's for the initiative coordinated with Kimball and Calise-Nelson, 90 MW Office of Special Investigations (OSI) and 90 MW Judge Advocate (JA). JA POC's conducted a meeting with the City of Kimball Mayor, City Counsel, Calise-Nelson, 90 MW OSI, and 90 MW JA to exchange information and view the static display.
The final result of that collaboration is a chronological history of Kimball's Titan missile and three possible courses of action:
1)Missile Removal
2)Missile Removal and replacement with a Minuteman or Peacekeeper
3)Missile Restoration
"This missile has been Kimball's responsibility to take care of, now it is time to move forward and resolve the situation as a team," said Calise-Nelson.
With such a wide variety of trades and talent in our community's workforce, Calise-Nelson is hopeful that as a whole we can come together and take what actions we see fit for the next steps in this project.
"This will be a huge community effort, it will take everyone to reach the end result if we choose the restoration option. However we need to take a hard look at what is feasible for Kimball. I remember going to the park when I was little and just looking up at the missile thinking how amazing it was that Kimball can say, we have a missile. I want those memories to live on if possible."
