Franconia News

The
Vol. No. VIII, Issue 45

Serving the Franconia Military CommunityAnsbach, Bamberg and Schweinfurt

Nov. 11, 2011

USACE, Ansbach turns MWR funds into new auto skills center
Story by Rachel Goodspeed USACE Europe District Public Affairs ANSBACH-- Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District and U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach pulled out their shovels to turn dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 4 marking the beginning of construction on a new Automotive Skills Center at Urlas. The $6 million building and supporting facilities will provide the military community with nine maintenance bays, an automatic car wash building and even a dog wash, said Col. Kelly Lawler, USAG Ansbach commander. Around Europe, there are many countries that are not doing groundbreakings, he said. Theyre doing U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach broke ground on the new $6 million Automotive Skills Center things like taping up boxes and board- at Urlas, Nov. 4. USAG Ansbach commander Col. Kelly J. Lawler (second from left) said ing up windows, so we need to be very the new facility represents what the garrison is all about, taking care of Soldiers and proud and positive in our outlook and families. U.S. Army photo by Bob McElroy with our community. A vehicle storage area, salvage yard and other storage pool from 1953 at Barton Barracks and not accustomed to areas are also included in the plans, providing the Ansbach accommodating some of the bigger U.S. vehicles, said and Illesheim communities with a state-of-the-art facility to Gary Dyson, Automotive Skills Center manager. service their vehicles, said Col. D. Peter Helmlinger, An auto salvage yard is located in a separate area on KatUSACE Europe District commander. terbach Kaserne. Youll have a fantastic facility here with the state-of-the- Its a great thing that were doing this because the faciliart auto crafts shop, he said. This project is special to me. ties we have and especially the older ones are not really I used to be one of those shade-tree mechanics who spent a accustomed to some of the bigger American vehicles, lot of time there when I drove a 1963 Chevy Corvair and Dyson said. The facilities we are working in now are old. ended up pushing it more than I drove it until I finally Some of them dont have bathrooms. We have holes in the discovered the auto crafts shop. Its been invaluable to me walls. It was an old building so it really wasnt worth inever since. vesting in. The current auto skills center is housed in an old motor (Continued on Page 3)

This week in
Bamberg: Financial readiness tips for returning Soldiers Pg.4. More at: http://www.bamberg.army.mil/index.asp Schweinfurt: Winter driving tips Pg.5 . More at: http://www.schweinfurt.army.mil/

Nov. 11, 2011

Auto skills...
(Continued from Page 1) The expansion in space will also allow the center to expand its hours of operation, Dyson said. Right now were only open five days a week, but with the new facility and the 24-hour car wash and dog wash and strip yard available, well be open seven days a week so you can come get your car serviced anytime, he said. Unlike military construction projects, the dollars being used to fund this project are nonappropriated -- funds raised through Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs that are given back to the community through quality-oflife upgrades. You can see we put that price tag on the construction sign -- $6 million, Lawler said. I asked for that to be put on there so that our Soldiers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District commander Col. D. Peter know how much money is being spent on this pro- Helmlinger (right) presents a golden shovel plaque to Ansbach Automotive Skills Center manager Gary Dyson during the ground breaking ceremony for ject -- that their money from MWR is going to the new automotive skills center. U.S. Army photo by Bob McElroy build this. They need to know that, especially in todays day and age of a global economic change. In addition to being economically friendly, the facility is tractor Mickan from Amberg, the community will be also designed to be environmentally friendly. An oil-water pleased when the centers doors open, Helmlinger said. separating system, sealed and leak-proof floors and waste Its great to see everyone and be part of this strong partoil pumps will keep chemicals out of the soil, and high nership, he said. Were glad to add to the Urlas commuwindows will allow natural light to be used. nity. We recently completed the new state-of-the-art housWhen we did this, we took all things into consideration ing area and were going to continue to make this a firstenvironmental and saving energy, Lawler said. Talk class facility. about green -- this is green. Its not easy to get where we are today because theres a Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of lot of planning, a lot of coordination, a lot of regulations 2012 and with the partnership between USACE, USAG and a lot of environmental, Lawler added. Ansbach, the Directorate of Public Works, F&MWR, the There are many people that play in enabling us to throw Nuremberg state construction office and construction con this dirt today. I would like to thank that entire team.