ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. (March 27, 2013) -- Rock Island Arsenal Garrison employees learned at the town hall meeting, March 27, details of the impeding sequestration-related changes, including the loss of air conditioning, elevators and other reductions in base operations.
"There will be a reduction in contractual services beginning on April 1," said Joel Himsl, Garrison manager. "The chillers, elevators and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning contracts will be affected. We will not have air conditioning in our administrative spaces for April, May and June as it stands right now."
"I also informed the directors, that overtime and compensatory time is now ended," said Himsl. "We cannot even pay our regular salaries right now. There could be some emergency compensatory or overtime, but the only exception is our police and fire departments."
Toward the end of summer, more services are affected.
"At the end of August the grass cutting stops and the Government Bridge will be affected since that is when its' funding runs out," said Himsl. "It costs about a million dollars a year to run the bridge."
More changes are on the way for USAG-RIA.
"The Garrison will be receiving a new commander, his name is Col. Elmer Speights, Jr., and he should arrive on or about May 28," said Himsl. "I will be moving into the deputy position and later in the summer, we will also receive a garrison sergeant major."
"I have been doing this job since January 2008, just over five years," said Himsl. "You can be stuck in the way you do things. A new garrison commander with new perspectives can implement interesting changes."
Himsl explained the continuing resolution authority passed until the end of the fiscal year. The Department of Defense has some spending flexibility but it was unknown if it will trickle down to the garrison level.
Himsl said the Garrison lost half of its funding since fiscal year 2009; this included a reduction of $18.4 million to $8.4 million in the sustainment, restoration and modernization accounts this year. All the money left in the SRM accounts is the firm fixed price of the contracts.
"We are getting $279,000 from the reduction of contracts," said Himsl. "We absolutely need that money to fix things that break here on the installation. We are not doing any routine maintenance, only what breaks and the life, health, safety and mission failure areas. That is all the flexibility we have, the $279,000 is very precious to us."
"Our base operations contract runs through the end of August," said Himsl. "We have no programmed money left in our SRM accounts. We are going to have to figure some things out on our own."
"Contracts will be reviewed for savings," said Himsl. "We want to get into the nitty-gritty of the contracts and see what can be done to save money. Saving money where we can is the right thing to do since we have no money and no flexibility. We are $9 million short in multiple accounts and we can barely make payroll. We have not had our payroll covered, it is in the red."
Himsl said, "It is a continuing struggle to get things done."
"Sequestration is not just about the federal government," said Himsl. "A senior official from the Genesis Health Care System has informed me, the Genesis medical clinic will be moved off Arsenal Island because they can no longer afford it. The impact of sequestration is much broader."
"The IMCOM commander has a saying that we need to lean forward and that change is inevitable," said Himsl. "The only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. It is the truth; we have to embrace change to move forward in these trying times."
"Thank you for your service," said Himsl. "You are the foundation that allows this installation to operate. That is how important you are. If you do not provide these services, this installation will not run. We need you to stay focused on the mission because it is that important."
Related Links:
Sequester furloughs -- what it means to the IMCOM workforce
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