FORT RILEY, Kan. - The quarterly 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Town Hall meeting took place June 22 at Riley's Conference Center, where community members came to state their concerns and opinions to the garrison command group.
Col. Kevin Brown, garrison commander, welcomed the audience with a few words and a brief film illustrating the events which occurred during Victory Week. The audience then had the chance to ask any questions or review their concerns with the command group.
Jan Childs, a civilian employee with the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, presented her concern about her battalion's Strong Bonds Retreat being changed. Sixty-eight spouses had signed up for the retreat.
A chaplain responded to her concern by explaining there are funding shortages to the Strong Bonds program and there also is a priority listing for units. The units returning from deployment have the first priority to the programs, then the deploying units, and then all other units and spouses. The chaplain is currently working to re-organize the DHHB's date to have the Strong Bonds Retreat. The anticipated dates are Sept. 17-18.
Another attendee expressed concern about where meetings for Survivor Outreach Services were being advertised. The attendee was concerned that most of the SOS meetings were being advertised via Facebook and not through other avenues.
"Not everyone has a Facebook," she said.
Brown addressed her concern by informing her of the new developments geared toward informing survivors of SOS meeting dates including: a 24-hour contact number for Families and a quarterly newsletter.
A community member notified the command group of the collapsed wall and the makeshift water pump at the dog park. Larry McGee, director of Public Works, updated the audience and said PW has a contract in place for the first wall that collapsed and they expanded the contract to cover any further damage. PW also will put up a temporary fence for the safety of the dogs.
Another audience member requested to know the pool rules regarding what age minors must be signed in. A pool official responded that minors ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone age 13 and over may come to the pool and sign themselves in, as long as they have an identification card. Non-military guests must have an active-duty Soldier or the spouse of an active-duty Soldier sign them in.
Other concerns addressed during the meeting included questions on whether improvements will be made to roads along Huebner leading to Custer Hill; if Fort Riley has a street sweeper; and whether Fort Riley has a public transportation system in place.
Fort Riley officials said the construction of a round-a-bout and a traffic monitoring system have been discussed; Picerne Military Housing is responsible for sweeping the streets twice a year -once in the spring and early summer and once in the fall; and Brown said a bus system is not cost effective.
Previously, when Fort Riley had a bus transportation system, Brown said, it had an average of six to eight riders a week and cost $125,000 annually. Another Fort Riley official said there is a possibility of the Flint Hills Regional Council providing a bus to transport Fort Riley community members between Fort Riley and Junction City.
Other questions asked were if all residents living on post receive the 1st Inf. Div. Post newspaper and if off post residents can receive it.
Paul Fisher, director of the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office, said the newspaper is free of charge. To continue to receive this benefit, the post prints 8,000 newspapers, once a week, which are distributed to every Fort Riley household, as well as each battalion, brigade and headquarters.
Additionally, he said, of- post residents can sign up to get the newspaper by going to the Fort Riley website and clicking on the 1st Infantry Division Post newspaper. The newspapers can be delivered either electronically or to the residence.
One of the last questions asked by a resident was if Soldiers and spouses have access to mental health care on post.
Brig. Gen. David Petersen, 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley deputy commanding general-rear, advised the resident there are plenty of resources available, and that the command group is working to decrease stigma associated with receiving mental health care.
"If you need help, ask for it. It's a sign of strength, not a weakness," Petersen said. He also told audience members that health care is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Under other items of business:
* All the brigades at Fort Riley now have set up Facebook pages.
* There is now a recycling area at the old Post Exchange, Camp Funston and the barracks.
* There is an incentive program sponsored by PW to award the unit who recycles the most with a cash bonus. The last quarter award for this competition was $8,400.
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