Town hall provides forum for information exchange Published Feb. 3, 2011 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Nearly 100 residents of Turner Park, Crestview and Forest Park turned out last week for a town hall meeting. The residents received information on a range of topics, from the rules against solicitation, the potential for a curbside recycling program, and where to go to get information about delays or closings during adverse weather, to speed limits, weapons registration, and more. Speakers during the two-hour gathering included leaders from Robins' weather flight, security forces squadron and fire department, as well as representatives from the base housing office and Hunt Military Community, the company which manages the properties. "I felt more connected to the residents than I ever have," said Bob Sharples, capital assets manager for the base housing office, following the meeting. "We learned a lot about them, and they learned a lot about base services and housing management." One of the most important issues was electrical metering. Previously, the houses were not metered and residents could use as much electricity as they wanted. However, meters have been installed on each home, and residents will soon pay for the electricity they use over a specified amount. Residents are currently receiving "mock electricity bills." Housing officials explained this is to allow residents to see how much electricity they're using, as well as housing officials to establish average amounts of electrical use by similar-sized homes. When the "mock" billing period ends, residents will be allowed 110 percent of the average for their size home. They will have to pay for the amount they use which is over that. The averages will continually be adjusted. Danny Queen, community director for Hunt, explained the metering is an Air Force initiative to help reduce energy costs. Residents were also asked how many would support a curbside recycling program, and nearly all said they would. The response was not a surprise to Col. Carl Buhler, 78th Air Base Wing and installation commander. "Curbside recycling is the one issue I'm almost always asked about in conversations with residents," he said. "If the service is provided, it will be a big win for our environment, community, and the Air Force as a whole." Queen said negotiations are ongoing with Happy Hour, the contractor for base recycling, but it's not certain whether it will be implemented. The housing areas had curbside recycling in the past, he said. However, it wasn't used enough to make it economical for Happy Hour to collect the items. Lisa Keller, whose husband serves in one the Marine units which recently relocated to Robins, was among the residents who attended the meeting. Her husband has served in the Marines for 16 years, and she said this is the first time they have been at a base which had town hall. "I thought it was a fantastic idea," she said. "I learned about some things I hadn't heard of." The base housing office and Hunt plan to make the town hall a quarterly event. In the interim, housing officials will provide updates to residents on the issues discussed during the first meeting.