Lawn care still required Published July 18, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Shane M. Phipps 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Due to a recent delay in housing privatization, the MHAFB housing office is seeing an alarming trend in unkempt yards. Believing the civilian organization, Belfour Beatty Communities, will take over lawn-care sooner rather than later, many residents have neglected their sod responsibilities. "The inspectors have been doing their weekly yard inspections and been told by some occupants they were just going to leave the yard work until BBC takes over," explained Mary Dunn, housing facilities chief. "Now that privatization has been pushed back and there is no definite closing date, those yards aren't looking very good and not meeting standards." The high number of Gunfighters unsure of their housing duties has been reason enough for the Mission Support Group commander to give a friendly reminder on lawn protocol. "With the delay of our housing privatization there also comes a delay in changes to lawn care responsibilities to BBC," said Col. Steven Griswold, MSG commander. "Until such time as the privatization closing occurs, each household is still responsible for the upkeep of the portions of their yard that are currently not being maintained by our grounds contractor." Housing office leadership understands there are still certain misconceptions about resident's responsibilities after privatization. "The occupants are responsible for the upkeep of their yards even after privatization," stated Dunn. "While it is true that BBC will take care of mowing the front yards once we close, it will still be up to each occupant to maintain inside their fenced area." Occupants should expect to follow the same procedure when it comes to routine yard maintenance. "Base residents should maintain their yards as instructed in their assignment package and the housing brochure," said Dunn. "They should be neatly cut, edged, bushes trimmed, sucker trees removed, trash and weeds out of the zero-landscaped areas and weeds pulled from behind their fences." Any Gunfighter who chooses to neglect these requirements can expect to face significant repercussions. "The housing inspectors are doing weekly housing inspections at this time and if the yards are not up to inspection standards, the occupants should expect the first and second write-ups to go to themselves and their Shirts and the third write-up would go to their commanders from the Civil Engineer commander or deputy." Adhering to the housing requirements is not only important but an expectation of wing leadership as well. "Please do your part in making our base appearance as nice as possible by keeping your grass and weeds under control," said Griswold.