Fort Rucker schedules improvements with stimulus funds

By Emily BrainardJuly 9, 2009

Fort Rucker schedules improvements with stimulus funds
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala.--Postwide renovations will get under way later this year thanks to the more than $12.1 million in funds Fort Rucker recently received through the presidential economic stimulus package.

Projects include a complete renovation of Andrews Avenue Physical Fitness Center (PFC), building a mail distribution center next to the Soldier Service Center and upgrades to heating and cooling systems in some barracks.

Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Chief of Business Operations Division Johnathon Cole said DPW submitted 19 project requests through the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Project Prioritization System (PPS). He said DPW competed against other posts nationwide for the funds.

"(The money) allowed us to address a lot of projects that were in our backlog," Cole said of the funding, the first of its kind.

Cole said the PFC has been the top PPS goal, and DPW has waited for funding for several years. It will be renovated in three phases over a 12-month period, according to DPW Customer Support Branch Chief Earl Flynn. At no point will the entire PFC be shut down.

Manager of Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Lori Ciranni said the first phase includes renovations to the PFC fitness and cardiovascular rooms and office areas. During that time, fitness equipment will be moved onto the gymnasium floor. The second phase will be gym floor renovations. During the final phase, Ciranni said the pool, locker rooms and child care area will be overhauled.

Ciranni said she is excited about the improvements Soldiers and their Families will receive from the renovations.

To provide an alternative option for those wishing to exercise on post during the renovations, Fortenberry-Colton PFC will continue to offer all of its regular services.

Flynn anticipates the renovations will begin later this year, but said design plans aren't completed and the contract for the company to conduct the renovations hasn't been awarded yet.

Cole said heating and cooling systems in many of the barracks will be upgraded from two to four pipes, making them more modern, energy efficient and easier to control. He said the systems for training barracks 4301, 6815 and the 6100 block will be redesigned and built. Permanent party barracks 6812 and the 4900 and 8300 blocks will have new designs drawn up later for refurbishing.

Due to force protection standards, the Soldier Service Center, Bldg. 5700, is required to have an outside mail distribution center, Cole said. He added that it is still in the early design stage and construction will not begin until fiscal year 2010.

Paving projects, totaling about $700,000, will improve several main intersections between Fifth and Andrews avenues. Although the start dates for these projects is not yet determined, Cole said he expects them to take about three months to complete once construction starts.

The Army Corps of Engineers are still in the process of drawing design plans and awarding contracts for each renovation or project, which will all take place during fiscal years 2009 and 2010 per stimulus package guidelines, said Cole. According to Cole, none of the projects have a definite starting date yet.