Town hall clarifies options for GLH residents Published March 1, 2011 By Senior Airman Clay Murray 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron Housing Office held a town hall meeting Feb. 23 in the Eifel Conference Center to explain options, answer questions and offer any other help to government-leased housing residents in Binsfeld and Speicher as termination of some local housing contracts will finalize in September. More than 100 active-duty military members and family members filled the chairs of the conference center to learn what and how their lives would be affected as residents of GLH. "The purpose of this session was to help everyone with their transfer from GLH if that's what their choice is; and if they choose to stay, we were there to answer questions about that, as well," Josephine Cardenas, Spangdahlem Air Base housing chief, said. Three options were offered to the two communities of Sabers who would need to settle their changing living situations. The options include remaining in GLH and converting to a private lease, applying for Spangdahlem AB housing or relocating to other off-base community housing. Housing employees handed out questionnaire forms for the attendees to address the most important issues for the occupants and minimize hardship during the transition. "The most important thing for them (to do) is to complete the questionnaire totally and honestly so that way we know what their needs are," Ms. Cardenas said. "That's what the purpose of the questionnaire is - so that we know what their needs and desires are. Beyond that, (residents should) explore all the options on the table, all three options, so they definitely know that they choose the best one for them." The housing office requests that questionnaire forms be returned as soon as possible, but ultimately no later than March 31. The form will serve as an application for those wishing to apply for Spangdahlem housing. "I thought (the session) was great - the turnout was fantastic," Ms. Cardenas said. "I think it was a good exchange of questions, things that we hadn't thought of that are in their minds. That's what this is all about and that's great. This forum is great because everybody hears the answers to the questions. Plus we wrote down all the questions, and we'll be sending them out to everyone through e-mail." For more information about the impending closure of GLH in Speicher and Binsfeld, call the base housing office at DSN 452-6560 or e-mail 52ces.ceh@spangdahlem.af.mil. The purpose of this session was to help everyone with their transfer from GLHs if that's what their choice is and if they choose to stay we were here to answer questions about that as well. I thought it was great - the turnout was fantastic. I think we had more than 60 people show up so that's wonderful. I think it was a good exchange of questions, things that we hadn't thought of that's in their' minds so that's what this is all about so that's great. But this forum is great because then everybody hears the answers to the questions. Plus we've wrote down all the questions, and we'll be sending them out to everyone through email addresses so everybody gets the same answer. The most important thing for them is to complete the questionnaire. Totally and honestly everything on the board so that way we know what their needs are. That's what the purpose of the questionnaire is so that we know what their needs and desires are. Beyond that would be to explore all the options that are on the table, all three options, so they definitely know that they choose this option and that's the best one for them and that's what we're there for.