KMC spring cleanup set for May 26, 27

  • Published
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  With spring in the air and summer vastly approaching, it's time to spruce up Kaiserslautern Military Community facilities and neighborhoods.

To assist in the effort, the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron has coordinated a spring cleanup project with the Army May 26 and 27. KMC personnel are requested to tidy up the interiors and exteriors of base facilities and housing areas.

"The 786th CES stands ready to assist KMC facility managers and residents in any way possible to make this spring cleanup project a definite success," states Staff Sergeant James Robison, 786th CES Facility Excellence supervisor.

The first of the two cleanup days will focus on office and industrial buildings and their surrounding areas. Within facilities, CE experts recommend thoroughly cleaning stairwells, entries, and carpets; cleaning out storage rooms, washing windows, removing cobwebs and perhaps even doing some minor touch-up painting.

For facility exteriors, the engineers remind everyone that the areas of responsibility extend 100 feet in all directions from each building - to include nearby parking lots and side-walks. Where adjacent facilities are far apart, greater than 200 feet, meet your neighbors half way where practical. For outdoor areas, they ask that you pick up litter, pull weeds, trim overgrown hedges, tidy plant and flower beds, remove fallen limbs and cones, and rake leaves.

For the second day of the cleanup project, the focus will turn to the base housing areas. Residents are highly encouraged to take advantage of the organized clean-up days and of the support being offered by the 786th CES.

"Let's take the time to spruce up our communities, including the common areas like playgrounds, walkways and the areas around the underground trash containers." said Benjamin Hizon, KMC Housing Office deputy director. "Though participation is mandatory for housing residents, this is a great opportunity for us to get involved and show pride in where we live."

On both days throughout the cleanup, the 786th CES will have roving trucks that will be picking up bags, limbs and branches at the curbside and hauling them away.
They ask that you separate branches and limbs into two separate piles at the curbside -- one for branches up to four inches in diameter and another for larger limbs. Also, place bagged weeds and leaves at the curbside, but away from dumpsters. Litter and other garbage should be bagged and then disposed appropriately in the area dumpsters. All batteries, tires, glass and metal should be taken to the nearest recycling center (Ramstein, Bldg 5146; Kapaun, Bldg 2820; Sembach, Bldg 194) and paper should be taken to facility recycling containers.

"Let's not stop here," said Tech Sgt. Vernon Jackson, 786th CES Facility Excellence NCOIC, "it is everyone's responsibility to keep KMC areas clean at all times, not just on select days. It is only through constant cleanup efforts, that we will make the KMC a pleasant place to live and work."

The KMC Self-Help Store staff would also like to remind everyone that they can provide grass seed for thinning areas of lawns and biodegradable bags needed for weeds and leaves. Facility managers may also check out hand tools, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, power washers, rakes, shovels and many other such tools that can help in getting the job done.

"The KMC Self-Help Store has a large selection of equipment, tools and materials available to assist in making this cleanup a success." said Holger Graf, KMC Self-Help Store manager. "We are fully prepared to support facility managers and cleanup project participants."