GFAFB hosts first town hall meeting on housing privatization Published Feb. 27, 2012 By Tim Flack 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- About 150 base residents gathered here Feb. 23, 2012, for a town hall meeting to learn how the upcoming housing privatization initiative will impact them directly. Col. Tim Bush, 319th Air Base Wing commander, told participants that his goal with the meeting - hosted by the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron - was to ensure that they were able to ask any question they wanted. "I am about complete transparency and openness," with the move to privatized housing, he explained. Wayne Koop, 319th CES asset management flight chief, ran through several slides while briefing the residents. Koop explained that Balfour Beatty Communities (BBC) has been selected to run the housing privatization here. Representatives from BBC will be available at another town hall meeting in early April to answer more specific questions, Koop said. Between April 15 and April 30, base residents will be required to sign leases with BBC if they want to continue living in base housing. And effective June 1, Balfour will officially be the "landlord, manager and maintainer" of all on-base family housing, Koop explained. Those living in the housing will be required pay rent, which is the military member's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Each member will establish an allotment so the rent will be paid directly to Balfour monthly, Koop explained. Any increase or decrease to the BAH rate for Grand Forks AFB will not directly impact the renter; the new BAH amount will simply be paid via the allotment. Koop assured residents that the Air Force is going to work very closely with BBC. If a resident has an issue that can't be resolved through Balfour's property management office, the base's housing management office will be ready to assist. Koop, housing officials, and senior base leaders took turns answering questions, and recording those that needed further research. Bush told residents that he expected a smooth transition and a community that will be happy with the results. "We're going to make this good for you," Bush said. "We're going to improve our community." Officials will continue to put out information through the official Grand Forks Air Force Base website and through a recently created Facebook page. For more information, contact: Chris Powell, housing manager, 747-4580 Kevin Flickinger, housing assistant manager, 747-6912 Terry Kramer, housing contract evaluator, 747-4369 You can also e-mail them at 319ces.ceac.housingprivatization@us.af.mil for more information.