Base conducted first-ever Facebook Town Hall Published Feb. 14, 2014 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Col. Patrick Rhatigan, 19th Airlift Wing and installation commander, hosted Little Rock Air Force Base's first-ever Facebook town hall Feb. 5 at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. More than 100 Team Little Rock community members attended the event, presenting hard-hitting issues that were addressed by the commander and base leaders. As the event kicked off Col. Rhatigan said, "I would like to begin this evening by saying 2013 was an unprecedented year, full of adversity and amazing accomplishments. The 19th Airlift Wing deployed approximately 1,200 Airmen. Our aircrews supported contingency operations by flying approximately: 16,000 sorties; 13,000 hours; transporting 150,000 passengers; airlifting 73,000 tons of cargo; airdropping 3,500 tons and 4,500 bundles. Approximately 250 Airmen are currently deployed around the globe supporting wartime and contingency operations. I cannot thank the families and loved ones of our Airmen enough for their support, especially during deployments." More than 15 questions were posted, and base leaders answered most, if not all, concerns during the one-hour event. Questions that were not answered were staffed and addressed within three business days. Here are the questions and answers from the event: Q1: With the upcoming severe weather season, my question is where on base are there tornado shelters? During last year's season I would receive worrisome phone calls from my Airmen who live in base housing as to where these are located. Any possibility of making it known of any locations or reiterating to the masses of proper procedures during severe weather? A1: We appreciate this timely question. In case of severe weather we strongly recommend that each occupant remain in place in either their home or workplace. While the risk of being injured by a storm is of concern, a greater risk exists with individuals attempting to travel from one area to another during inclement weather or trying to evacuate to one single location. In case of a storm, we advise all base personnel to seek a room without windows and get as low as possible. Q2: The loud speaker behind my home no longer works or has been disabled. Who would I ask about this? A2: In order to better help you with this, please contact the Mission Support Group office at (501) 987-1905. You will need to provide your address so our team can identify the location of the speaker and determine the issue. Q3: Has there been any discussion of Jacksonville lengthening Exit 11 for southbound traffic? It was especially hazardous for our Airmen during Monday's delayed reporting. Also, the inbound main gate is a bottleneck during peak times with two lanes merging to one, then back to two. A3: As a result of a recent successful Arkansas ballot initiative, the intersections along 67/167 are in the process of being re-designed by the Arkansas Highway Department. This project will widen the highway from Jacksonville to Cabot and re-work many of the most dangerous intersections (including exit 11 at John Harden). These projects will take place over the next 2-3 years. Regarding Vandenberg Gate, we open a second lane of traffic during peak traffic conditions to alleviate congestion as much as possible. Additionally, the base's top Military Construction priority, a $11.6M project, is to upgrade and relocate the base gate in order to alleviate traffic congestion on Vandenberg and Marshall Roads. The project is currently unfunded. Q4: This post is in regards to the latest burnt down house on Pennsylvania Dr. It has been several months since the house caught fire, and it has simply been taped off. I really feel as though more should have been done in the amount of time that has elapsed. It is in a very unstable condition and I would hate to see a child get hurt from pure kid curiosity. A4: With insurance claims process only recently being completed, HPC now plans to have the homes boarded up by the end of this week to mitigate any safety concerns. Q5: My question concerns whether homeschool families can use the youth center gymnasium during school hours. A5: Yes, the Youth Center gymnasium can be used during school hours for home school families. To ensure youth center is properly staffed, please contact the FSS Youth Center Director, Charlotte White at 501-987-6355 or the School Liaison Officer, Mrs. Terry Shaw at (501) 987-8941. Q6: I would also like to include the issue of the numerous amounts of old trees and broken limbs that fall with every gust of wind and ice we have been having. As we speak there is a broken limb hanging over the drop off and pick up zone at Arnold Drive Elementary. I saw it this morning and told the school about it immediately but it was still there at the end of the day... Really wish a surge of productivity to go around and cut down these hazardous rotting trees would take place. A6: Thank you for your question. We work diligently to eliminate hazardous limbs as soon as they are identified. Though for legal reasons we are unable to perform work on the grounds of Arnold Drive, we have contacts and work directly with the facilities staff from Pulaski County Special School District. We will ensure they are aware of this issue. For all other areas on base, our first priority is cutting limbs over pedestrian areas and reducing the exposure our electrical lines (and power) to falling limbs. For example, we have cut back acres of trees after the snow storm of 2012 and also cut tree branches away from walking areas at the Education Center during Fall 2013. Please contact CE Customer Service as you see hazardous areas in the future. Follow up Q6: That's awesome and all but there seems to be a lot of things I have to piece together or be squeaky wheel about and I do not get a paid for that, all of those people who do get paid I know have to have two good eyes to see what needs to be done and when to do it. But its much easier I suppose to turn a blind eye and be neglectful. Follow up A6: With insurance claims process only recently being completed, HPC now plans to have the homes boarded up by the end of this week to mitigate any safety concerns. Q7: What are the plans for the area that was the old BX? A7: The Old BX will transform into area we will call "the Commons" which will house the Thomas Community Activity Center, The Base Library and the Airman Family Readiness Center; one central location to better accommodate TLR Airmen, families and retirees. The estimated timeline for grand opening is the Spring of 2015. Q8: My families' question is in regards to the lack of hours of operation for the side gate (Harrison Gate) While we certainly do appreciate having the gate, the hours it is open is a mystery. I can only think of one reason why it would not be open longer and that of course could be funding and lack of resources? A8: You are exactly right that manpower and funding is the primary limiting factor in operating the gate for extended hours. Security Forces is not assigned manpower for that gate and uses a Law Enforcement patrol to open the gate that would otherwise be enforcing traffic rules. We have set the hours of the gate to best facilitate the traffic coming onto the base for Lighthouse and Arnold Elementary Schools. We will evaluate your recommendation to align hours better to North Pulaski and Tolleson Elementary. Q9: I would like to know when and if it is a priority to fix or update the playground structures located next to the track. It has been well over a year that it has been unusable to children. A9: Safety of our family members is critical when it comes to facilities and equipment across the installation that is why it has been closed for the past year. This is a timely question. We awarded a project to repair this playground in September. The construction is scheduled to begin in March 2014. Q10: My concern is of the unavailability of the pediatrics clinic. When we call to get an appointment the best we get is "call back tomorrow and check again". We have filed out a request for change of primary care manager for my daughter but that got denied. I learned there are only two pediatric doctors. I just wanted to know if this is already being addressed. I know that changes to the clinic are hard and I don't know the ins and outs of it but I would think that the addition of even just one more pediatric doctor would help the situation. A10: Providing improved access to medical care for Airmen and their families is an issue we take seriously. Overall access to care was discussed at feedback sessions during our Unit Effectiveness Inspection in September. The medical group took specific new initiatives such as adding more appointments in the schedules, offering nurse-care appointments, and granting direct access into supporting clinics. Regarding the Pediatric clinic....families whose children are enrolled to our clinic can access care in three primary ways....via phone, MiCare and TRICARE Online. TRICARE Online allows appointments to me made directly with the PCM or his/her teammate if the primary is unavailable. MiCare allows you to save a trip to the clinic by communicating with the PCM team via secure messaging. You can request appointments, refill prescriptions, or even just ask a question. You can sign up at any point of service throughout the clinic. Getting the appointments via phone is our historic standby. We have team nurses and appointment clerks manning the phone lines every day. We have acute (new urgent medical concern) and routine (non-urgent) appointments. Acute appointments have same day priority and routine have a congressionally determined seven day window. Of course we make every attempt to give the patient the next available appointment. Families that are not enrolled in our clinic can request enrollment via www.humana-military.com and once enrolled can just follow the above instructions. Q11: Can it be stressed to residents that 99 percent of the housing area is 15 mph, and talking on cell phones behind the wheel is illegal on base? My street alone, with SNCOs and Os, I see a handful of folks that don't care. It's only 15 mph, or even 20. A11: Safety in our housing areas is of great importance. Security Forces conducts random enforcement patrols throughout base housing. If you have specific areas you wish patrolled please contact Security Forces at 987-4564. Q12: The lights at Texas and Arnold Drive are intermittently faulty. Numerous times I'm getting a green light to proceed straight across Arnold, but the opposing left turn lane gets an arrow at the same time. This has happened more than once and from both directions, crossing Arnold. Also the light at the intersection of Hangar 1080, (on the 1080 side), the left turn light doesn't even hold for one vehicle to fully cross. A12: Please report traffic light malfunctions to Security Forces at (501) 987-4564. Our Traffic Safety Engineers will look at your specific area of concern. In general the lights are controlled by sensors that detect approaching traffic. Q13: I've noted A LOT of spouse's concerns about not being able to get appointments at the clinic in a timely manner, whether it being a same day, routine, etc. even with the implementation of MiCare, which seems to have its issues as well. I have signed up for MiCare four times and still can't get access. Is there anything that can be done with that? Also with pediatric services, I've been having to go downtown for my son's care. We were referred, but even referrals seem to take forever or not even go through. A13: As with any new system there are always hiccups. The clinic is ready to assist any with MiCare setup or problems. Please contact the 19th Medical Group MiCare SuperUser at 987-3519, for account setup issues. Additionally, for immediate assistance you can contact MiCare customer service at 866-735-2963, option 1. This will take you to the enterprise helpdesk. Referrals submitted by the providers at the 19th MDG are submitted internally to the referral management office where they are reviewed and forwarded to Humana the same day. Once it reaches Humana which happens immediately, then Humana finishes the processing. They are required per contract to complete referral processing within 24 hours of receiving them. Once the referral is approved then the time between approval and your visit is determined by the network partner you are referred to. That aspect is largely out of your PCM's control. You can always check the status of the referral on the www.humana-military.com website. Q14: My question is in regards to the safety of the roads and parking lots on base. There are multiple potholes around base as well as multiple parking lots where the arrows are not clearly defined, which causes a lot of new people to the base as well as some existing people to go the wrong way in parking lot. I've also found that on base housing areas, it isn't clearly defined when you go from 15 mph to 35 mph when leaving E-1 to E-6 housing. I have also noticed that the lighting on streets is extremely dark in many parts of the base, on and off the street. I know the biggest way to prevent a crime is deterrence. Please let me know your thoughts. A14: Thank you for your question. Though we try our best to identify issues on roads and in parking areas on base, there are times we can't or don't see everything. 19th Civil Engineer Squadron repairs potholes as they are identified and based on funding availability. As you've seen there are a number of parking areas and streets that require repair or replacement. We are actively advocating funding for the end of fiscal year 2014 to address these largest priorities. Please continue to report any road or parking issues to CE customer service as you see them. The speed limit for all base housing areas is 15 mph. Speed limit signs are posted throughout base housing areas. We work diligently to ensure that all IEE exterior lighting standards are met. For security purposes this equates to .5-1 foot candles in each area on base. If you feel any area is unsafe please report your concerns to CE Customer Service. Q15: My concern is regarding video cameras at the intersections. I know that some intersections on base have cameras installed, but others do not. In October my husband was involved in an accident at the intersection of CMSgt Williams and Arnold Drive... it was a case of my husband's word against the other gentleman, which makes a bad situation all the more frustrating. And as it turns out, there are no cameras at this intersection... A15: Please report traffic light malfunctions to Security Forces at (501) 987-4564. Our Traffic Safety Engineers will look at your specific area of concern. In general the lights are controlled by sensors that detect approaching traffic. Q16: How exactly does the inclement weather policy work? For late mornings does this mean if it's 9 you really get there ASAP or at 9? Then for early realize should the grid be uses? Who should be left behind GS or AD? A16: Late reporting is intended to allow for a longer commute and is a no later than time. When everyone plans on the regular commute time and waits until the new report time, it creates a back-up at the gate. Our inclement weather policy allows for a sequenced release when early release is authorized. This plan allows for those furthest away, military or civilian, to depart first with the on-base residents typically released last. Q17: When will the base theater open up again? There's no better place to see a movie, where they play the National Anthem before getting started. A17: AAFES closed theater operations December 2012. In April 2013, the Force Support Squadron (FSS) took over the program, purchased licenses and started showing movies from the base library DVD inventory. However, the FSS had to pause the showing of movies due to licensing concerns. We are currently looking at options and hope to have the base theater up and running soon. Q18: How much has been decided with the respect to what squadrons and aircraft types are going to be stationed at LRAFB in the near future? Active, ANG, Reserves? (There are) lots of rumors out there. A18: We are working with our partner wings to ensure that force structure changes occur smoothly. The 22nd Air Force, Det 1 Reserves will soon be standing up as a combat-coded unit. The 189th Airlift Wing will have 12 assigned C-130s in the coming months. Other squadron announcements will be made soon.