When Redstone Arsenal closed Jan. 15-18 due to icy road conditions, a crew of 16 people worked behind the scenes to clear roads, check facilities and respond to issues.
“These folks worked long hours, stayed in a nearby hotel and braved the elements,” Public Works Director Joey Skinner said. “They did an excellent job during challenging conditions.”
Law Enforcement, the Fire Department and Guard Force also remained on the installation to ensure life, health and safety services.
The One Stop’s ID Card section closed all week, impacting more than 300 scheduled appointments, Human Resources Director Linda Moseley said. Most appointments were rescheduled, and the One Stop stayed open until 6 p.m. the following week and offered Saturday hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for walk-in customers.
The DEERS/RAPIDS ID card section supports more than 500,000 military personnel, government civilians, government contractors, retired military personnel and their eligible family members from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, according to Moseley.
While childcare and youth center programs were closed, Derrick Gould, the director of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, made the rounds at those locations the week of Jan. 15-19, checking for water leaks or other damages.
“We need to make sure they’re up and running, with no issues” when the installation reopens, Gould said during a stop at the Goss Road Child Development Center. He was also able to check the Mills Road Child Development Center and School Age and Youth Centers.
“Everything’s OK,” he said. “No water leaks, no damage.” Gould did find a few just-expired items, mostly milk, which he removed.
Gould was driving a four-wheel drive vehicle to get around the Arsenal. Still, “trying to stop on ice, instead of two wheels spinning on the ice, you get four.”
On Jan. 19, Gould said some minor water damage had resulted from burst pipes at other buildings – in a part of the office area that’s not currently being utilized at the Outdoor Recreation main building on Sportsman Road and in a nonfood storage area behind the kitchen at The Summit on Golf Course Road. The Directorate of Public Works and base support contractors handled the repairs and cleanup, he said.
The Boots to Business course at the One Stop was rescheduled for Feb. 7-8, according to Mark Scott, the director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center at Mississippi State University.
During a recent Commander’s Update Brief, the Directorate of Public Works advised personnel to call Minor Repair at 256-876-2801 if a heating system does not seem to be operating properly, if there is no water flow from faucets and fixtures and if water leaks are detected. When calling Minor Repair, be sure to leave the contact number of the person who will be giving access to responding personnel.
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