European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 13, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 from Page 1 rums Are an important Means of communication during the rapid draw Down. Before the draw Down communities preferred to showcase their Best aspects when vips visited refraining from airing their dirty laundry. But that has changed. A a it a better to get the issues on the table because people want to be heard a said chief of staff James Donaghy the top civilian administrator in Stuttgart a 6th area support group. Donaghy has watched As the Community has plummeted from 40,000 people to 10,000 and has worked to Cope with major cutbacks in facilities and services. What he hears Over and Over he said is that people a need More this More  a a. A a a a it never ends a he said after hearing 20 complaints in the the first 20 minutes of the brainstorming session. A a we la fail As a Community if we done to answer the questions a he said. Col Coy. Scroggins commander for Stuttgart a 6th area support group opened the meeting saying a i will Promise you a open ear. I can take the bad news As Well As Good  he heard plenty during a Day Long forum. Among the unhappiest of the forums participants was Claudia Johnston who said she and Many others arc angry about the City dump that is close to the Panzer housing area. Also they Call the housing area a the dump and consider it unhealthful. Johnston said that voicing concerns to authorities has left her Only frustrated. A they tap dance and Tell what we want to heart and nothing happens a she said. A if it takes rattling cages rattle cages a said Edith Donelson the Panzer housing area mayor whose husband is an army a amps Elf oblation a discussion group in Stuttgart Germany debates morale welfare and recreation issues to present to Lee Perry. The wife of defense Secretary William Perry visited the Headquarters of . European come to hear comments from Community members. Master sergeant. A you can to just  a a a a a a she said that All Panzer residents have serious concerns about the dump and its Impact on their health. Her frustration on other issues she said was hearing Over and Over a no Money and a a it a written in the  her reply a Fine change the  contributing to the dissatisfaction Levels in the army run Community Are the expectations newcomers bring. A Community spokesman sgt. 1st class Mike Alley said Many residents of the housing area were with the army a special forces members who transferred from bad Tolz. It was a move from the Edge of the bavarian Alps to the Edge of a City dump. The Panzer housing had been scheduled to be returned to the German gov Crement. When plans changed Many of the army a elite members found themselves bringing their families to in refurbished apartments with kitchens dating to the 1950s. Others said they would prefer to have the Community a purse strings controlled by the joint Scricc european come rather than the army. Donelson no cd an old joke when the air Force builds a new air base it starts with the housing and Community facilities. .7then it builds the runway. A that Way they can to run out of Money a Donelson said a because they always need a  care Quality of life among hot topics by Effie Bathen Heidelberg Bureau Stuttgart Germany a As the Stuttgart Community shrinks services suffer residents said at last weeks forum. Residents cited concerns about the realignment of the Post Exchange and commissary. V. V Quot a a a 7 �77 Quot v. A v Many believe that decisions were based of profit and not on Quality of life issues. Participants argued that people have the same requirements despite a shrinking population. Many people attending the forum complained about the availability of medical and dental care. One concerned civilian was Jan John son the principal of Bobingen elementary school. She has spent 21 years in Germany and described the medical system As a totally inadequate for civilians. Orie person complained that Newcom ers to the Community Are not Given an accurate picture of available medical services. Otherwise he said a they  come in the first  Many Stuttgart Community residents Are dissatisfied with the medical system because they remember Johnson when Stuttgart had an army Hospital said Barbara Slifer a spokeswoman of Mac army a health serv ices in europe.,. They also complain because they think that the staffing of the present clinic is based solely on the army population in the Community. However staffing is based on the population of members from All services she said. The reality of the draw Down is that people have to travel for services that they once took for granted. Stuttgart area residents have to go to Heidelberg for the nearest in patient . Hospital care. A a a a a a a v a a a a also specialists such As paediatricians optometrists and psychiatrists visit the area clinic once or twice a week Slifer  �7 a 77.7 a a a a a this is not the army of 10 years ago a she said. A we have  the list of concerns presented at a forum last week provides a Clear picture of How Stuttgart residents perceive their Quality of life Community officials say. However in Many cases those perceptions Are based on incorrect information the officials say. A a it a the truth to them a a Stuttgart Community spokesman sgt. 1st class Mike Alley said of people who raise complaints. But it is the Job of Community leaders to provide a the real information a before finding solutions. For example one person said she believed that air Force personnel assigned to Stuttgart receive a supplemental housing allotment because the army housing is  but officials said there is no added allotment. Other complaints raised at last weeks forum weren to directed to the proper people. A Many people attending a session on morale welfare and recreation did not realize they were supposed to be addressing questions on local services such As the Bowling Alley theater programs and audiovisual clubs Alley said. These mar functions raise funds for the Community. Instead residents at the mar session complained about a substandard living conditions a especially in the Panzer housing area Alley said. 16 issues on Stuttgart residents last week compiled a list of their greatest concerns for Lee Perry the life of defense Secretary William Perry. The 16 issues were morale welfare and recreation y a child development policies should be improved. A living conditions Are substandard. A children Are not designated a top priority a for example teen programs Are unorganized. A Job opportunities for family members should be improved. Cafes and commissary a a better selection is needed. Specially sizes and children a clothing Are lacking. A the treatment of customers by the army and air Force Exchange service should be improved. A a better assortment of perishables is needed. A profit demands should be balanced with Quality of life requirements. Medical and dental care a Community staffing is based on the size of the Active duty army population Only the medical care available within the Community is limited. A dental and orthodontic care is limited. A service members should receive accurate information on services before and after they arrive. Schools a special education programs Are limited. A stateside programs such As honors programs should be continued. A the number of specially instructors and workers such As nurses physical education teachers and Art teachers is limited. A discipline lacks consistency throughout department of defense dependents schools and lacks Parent accountability. S4s Effle Ballon. Work sheets list concerns about the Stuttgart Community a medical care system