I checked the Onion and Snopes and this is no hoax or a joke! I live on a hilltop in Camp Verde. Should I be paranoid or welcome "Big Brother" over my backyard?
Camp Verde residents hear 'eye in the sky' proposal
For Dateland to come to Camp Verde, the community will have to be accepting of is a balloon about the size of a semi-tractor trailer rig floating about 2,500 feet in the air, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
By Steve Ayers
CAMP VERDE, AZ - The newest business wanting to settle in Camp Verde won't have a storefront, won't manufacture anything and won't offer any services to the public.
It will, nevertheless, be very visible.
Dateland Proving Grounds is the research, development and training division of STARA Technologies, a Scottsdale-based company that designs and manufactures specialized equipment for the military.
One of those devices is a 70-by-20-foot, helium-filled balloon equipped with a million-dollar camera that gives units in forward positions the ability to see if anyone attempting to attack their position.
There are already 22 of the balloons deployed in Afghanistan, and they have proven to be highly effective eyes in the sky.
On Thursday afternoon, Dateland representative Doug Powell gave residents their first look at what the company is proposing to do.
"We are interested in coming to Camp Verde because it offers us a chance to train soldiers in an environment similar to what they will find in Afghanistan," said Powell. "It is our hope that the community will accept us."
What Powell says the community will have to be accepting of is a balloon about the size of a semi-tractor trailer rig floating about 2,500 feet in the air, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Powell used his opportunity on Thursday to address some of the community's concerns, which included possible invasion of privacy safety and how the balloon might affect the town's dark sky policy.
Powell said the company has very stringent rules when it comes to what they observe during training. It is limited to spotting and marking targets on nearby hilltops and following vehicles.
"We don't look in people's homes, backyards or any part of their private lives. And we don't record any of the footage taken with the camera. Training policies are in place and will be followed. Anyone not following those policies would be ushered off the premises," said Powell.
Powell said the balloons have redundant safety systems and can be dropped remotely if one should ever leave its moorings.
During night training, residents of Camp Verde would see only the marker lights of the balloon and a string of lights marking the tether.
On average, the 15-acre site they are proposing to use, on property owned by the Camp Verde Sanitary District off State Route 260, will host between 15 and 30 personnel.
"Crews sent to Camp Verde for training would be staying at local motels and eating at local restaurants. We will utilize local contractors and services for all contract work," said Powell.
The company is proposing a three- to five-year lease on the property.
The planning and zoning commission will hear the company's formal proposal on Jan. 6. It is scheduled to go before the Town Council on Jan. 26. Both meetings will take place in the council chambers beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Camp Verde residents hear 'eye in the sky' proposal
For Dateland to come to Camp Verde, the community will have to be accepting of is a balloon about the size of a semi-tractor trailer rig floating about 2,500 feet in the air, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
By Steve Ayers
CAMP VERDE, AZ - The newest business wanting to settle in Camp Verde won't have a storefront, won't manufacture anything and won't offer any services to the public.
It will, nevertheless, be very visible.
Dateland Proving Grounds is the research, development and training division of STARA Technologies, a Scottsdale-based company that designs and manufactures specialized equipment for the military.
One of those devices is a 70-by-20-foot, helium-filled balloon equipped with a million-dollar camera that gives units in forward positions the ability to see if anyone attempting to attack their position.
There are already 22 of the balloons deployed in Afghanistan, and they have proven to be highly effective eyes in the sky.
On Thursday afternoon, Dateland representative Doug Powell gave residents their first look at what the company is proposing to do.
"We are interested in coming to Camp Verde because it offers us a chance to train soldiers in an environment similar to what they will find in Afghanistan," said Powell. "It is our hope that the community will accept us."
What Powell says the community will have to be accepting of is a balloon about the size of a semi-tractor trailer rig floating about 2,500 feet in the air, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Powell used his opportunity on Thursday to address some of the community's concerns, which included possible invasion of privacy safety and how the balloon might affect the town's dark sky policy.
Powell said the company has very stringent rules when it comes to what they observe during training. It is limited to spotting and marking targets on nearby hilltops and following vehicles.
"We don't look in people's homes, backyards or any part of their private lives. And we don't record any of the footage taken with the camera. Training policies are in place and will be followed. Anyone not following those policies would be ushered off the premises," said Powell.
Powell said the balloons have redundant safety systems and can be dropped remotely if one should ever leave its moorings.
During night training, residents of Camp Verde would see only the marker lights of the balloon and a string of lights marking the tether.
On average, the 15-acre site they are proposing to use, on property owned by the Camp Verde Sanitary District off State Route 260, will host between 15 and 30 personnel.
"Crews sent to Camp Verde for training would be staying at local motels and eating at local restaurants. We will utilize local contractors and services for all contract work," said Powell.
The company is proposing a three- to five-year lease on the property.
The planning and zoning commission will hear the company's formal proposal on Jan. 6. It is scheduled to go before the Town Council on Jan. 26. Both meetings will take place in the council chambers beginning at 6:30 p.m.
