BAMBERG, Germany -- The Directorate of Public Works for U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg is overseeing the consolidation of multiple on-post units to hopefully bolster the efficiency of services offered to Soldiers and their families.
Building 7116 will soon house outdoor recreation and add additional space to the Consolidated Mail Room to combine mail services.
The American Post Office and CMR are located in separate buildings and will be converted to a one-stop shop with the two co-existing under one roof.
The move to transform a portion of the mail system should improve convenience, especially for those who utilize the facilities on a regular basis.
Army wife Nicole McAllister frequently uses both mail services.
"The mail system here on post is vital," she said. "The consolidation of the APO and CMR will be beneficial. It will allow community members to shorten the process of sending and checking mail from an after-work activity to a quick lunch-time errand."
Dave Thompson, director of Public Works, said the decision to consolidate the mail offices was based on the increased productivity the new site should generate.
"The move was not based upon current building issues," he said. "It was initiated to improve customer service and the efficiency of the total mail operation."
The outdoor recreation facility is also in the process of re-locating. ODR equipment and services are contained in three separate areas spread throughout post. ODR can no longer remain at its current location because of limited space.
"Putting all mail operations under the single roof improves...customer service," said Thompson. "Moving ODR into a larger space allows better accessibility to their equipment and also improved operations."
Paul Calain, ODR director, and Brandi Crist, a management trainee, explained the necessity for needing more space.
"Basically we've outgrown our current location," said Calain.
Calain has been working at ODR for about 2 and a half years, and in that time has witnessed the cliental for programs and rentals double twice, he said.
"It hurts our timeline for rentals," Calain said.
He listed the benefits of the new building, which will allow ODR to offer quicker and more extensive services.
"The new site will improve our customer service," Calain said. "It makes a huge difference having a space where everything is available. Our potential to make more revenue has increased."
ODR received $120,000 worth of new equipment to accommodate the increasing number of Soldiers and civilians on Warner Barracks taking advantage of the facility, as well as supporting Warrior Adventure Quest.
Crist, who will take over Calain's responsibilities when he leaves Bamberg, will work alongside the current director when the keys to the new building are handed over to them July 27.
The management anticipate a decline in customers in the early fall when ODR first opens at the new site, Crist said, but feels that regular consumers will increase once they experience the effectiveness and convenience of operations.
Both projects were approved by the garrison commander in September and placed on the DPW FY10 Annual Work Plan, said Thompson. The ODR project is about 60 percent complete with completion scheduled for early August. DPW is still working on the design for the APO/CMR areas. Execution dates are to be determined.
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