RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
By Airmen have benefited from improvements done to a pair of public-use rooms inside the Randolph dormitory, but bats are raising concerns.
Recent overhauls of two publicly-accessed rooms at the dormitory created more comfortable socializing space and wireless internet access gives residents more options with their computers.
Time-Warner Cable came last week and installed high-speed internet capability in all of the dorm rooms.
Those and other improvements are part of an ongoing, multi-phased dormitory furnishings project initially budgeted at $800,000. The building was constructed in 1989.
"We've still got improvements planned to the heating and air conditioning system which will cost $3 million, so there are variable costs with all the things we're trying to do over there," said Leon Spradling, Mission Support Group deputy base civil engineer said. "But that hasn't even been funded yet."
What has been funded is a $100,000 bat eradication measure following months and years of torment by the nocturnal birds.
Bats have, for some time, been congregating within the roof portion of the dormitory. Capt. Cesar Romero, 12th Medical Group public health flight commander said the bats excrete waste, called "guano" that causes foul odor for the people who live there.
"We had a group look extensively at the bat problem there and our recommendations included to perhaps use wire mesh to close off areas where the bats can get into," Captain Romero said. "To do that in every building where this is happening is very expensive and you also are dealing with perhaps having to change the Randolph building motif, which would make it not consistent with the other buildings.
The group also recommended a plan for routine clean-up and collection of the guano deposits.
Mr. Spradling said many Airmen have expressed concerns the bats might carry rabies. "We just want them out of there and we've just gotten $100,000 that is earmarked for this project," he said
Mr. Spradling said it would cost several times that much to eradicate the bats from the entire building. The money available now will be used to focus on specific roofing areas directly above the newly-remodeled rooms.
"The bats are dangerous because sometimes they will fly straight at you," Airman 1st Class Brandon Yarbrough, 12th Security Forces said.
Remaining planned upgrades to the dormitory's common areas are in the acquisition stage and will happen once contracts are awarded, finalizing the furnishings aspect of the project.
Large projects such as the heating and air conditioning overhaul must be submitted for AETC perusal and compete with other projects requiring high dollar amounts.
"With what we've done in these public areas, we were seeking to create a more comfortable environment for the 85 enlisted Airmen who live here," said Chris Woods, dormitory manager. "We want to provide them a nice place to relax and spend down time. Though the wireless capability in the rooms is new, Woods said the common room already had Wi-Fi internet capability and a lot of people go there to surf the internet.
The largest renovated room measures approximately 30 feet by 20 feet and now contains 12 reclining theater lounge chairs. Residents can stretch out in the leather loungers and watch a DVD movie or cable television on a new, 60-inch flatscreen television.
Another room features new leather chairs that sit low to the ground. Dorm residents use two new 42-inch flat screen televisions to play interactive video games.
The wireless Wi-Fi capability is a popular method used for people owning laptop computers or cellular phones with internet potential. Mr. Woods said it's not uncommon at various times of the day and night to see all of the new bistro tables occupied by computer users.
Four of the tall tables were added in the overhaul, along with matching chairs similar to what might be seen in a European pub.
Mr. Woods said an interior design firm was consulted and base civil engineering personnel helped plan the renovations.
Darts, foosball, air hockey and billiards are some of the games already available in the two middle, or lobby, rooms that will be re-done in the next phase of the dorm's overhaul.
The couches and other seating will be replaced with new furniture and other design changes will me made as part of what the planned $800,000 budget for the projects.
One resident Airman, Aimee Pacheco, lived in a dormitory at Lakenheath in England before coming to Randolph, but said it is hard to compare facilities.
"They had just built brand new dorms there when I was overseas so obviously they were nice," Airman Pacheco, from Air Force Personnel Center headquarters, said. "I like to play X-Box and those types of games, but I do it mostly in my dorm room. What I like most about the improvements is the theater room. Several of us will get together down here and watch a movie. I do that more than anything."