August 9, 2019
3
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment Regarding Housing:
I am an E-5 who recently applied to get housing off base. I found an apartment I love. It was priced slightly over my OHA but I was ok with that until I saw the rent break-down. I will be paying a whopping 90 Euro for garbage tax. I am a yeoman and I have processed many OHA initiations for my command, and I’ve never seen a tax so extremely high. The average from my command is about 40 Euro. I asked the housing office why they would allow my landlord to charge me this, and I was told there is no real way to verify this; it’s whatever the landlord says it is. That’s not an acceptable answer but I did not want to start an argument. Can we have the housing process audited for uniformity in the taxes and fees sailors have to pay? We need to make sure that Housing protects Sailors from predatory practices.
Response:
Thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns, particularly since it provides an opportunity to educate current and future residents on the vast spectrum of utility fee calculations, services, and enforcement. In Catania, trash fees are calculated by residence size. For your particular unit, the calculation is 6.30 Euros x 150 m2 = 945 euros per year (or 79 Euro per month). The landlord also added the new rate increase which was recently sent out to property owners. The good news is that even though your particular area is expensive, trash rates are locked in for the duration of the lease, so residents will not face an increase during their tour of duty. Throughout the area, fee calculation vary by residency type, number of
people occupying the residence, and residence size. Municipalities levy different costs per square meter, so where you live will dictate the fees. Make sure you know and follow the regulations for disposal of refuse and recyclables. If not, you may be responsible for paying fines. The Housing department has put in many processes in places to prevent predatory practices of landlords and realtors. It is also audited and inspected regularly by CNIC and the IG. If you have any future questions about your lease, fees, or suspect any predatory practices, feel free to reach out to the Housing Director, Peter Faulk, directly at peter. faulk@eu.navy.mil. There are also two housing military liaisons, CSC Marco Guevarra and BUC William Travis, who can be contacted at Marco.Guevarra@eu.navy.mil and William.Travis@eu.navy.mil.
Comment Regarding Shuttle Bus Schedule:
I have been using the bus transportation system for some time now and it is always 5 to 10 minutes late from its scheduled time. Is there a way to ensure a more timely service? Some of us don’t have a choice but to use the bus, and being late for work is not an option.
Response:
Thank you for bringing attention to this problem. Our shuttles are relied upon by many service members like yourself as their sole transportation, so having consistent service is essential for the mission. The Public Work department is looking into this problem and is auditing the contractor’s past 60 days of daily bus "ICE" cont’d on Page 11
THE SIGNATURE
U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL
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