Cold Housing

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ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Commander's Action Line is a forum for the Ellsworth community to make suggestions or voice concerns about Ellsworth directly to Col. Mark Weatherington, 28th Bomb Wing commander. 

QUESTION 
Our family currently lives on Borglum Ct. in Centennial Estates. Since our first winter here in 2008, we have tried to sign up for new housing. In 2008 a pipe burst in our closet, and when they came to fix it, they told us there was nothing we could do to keep the pipe from freezing, so I opted to leave a hole in our closet so that the warm air could circulate to the pipe in hopes that it would not freeze again. In 2011, we learned that the hole wasn't helping when the same pipe burst again. In 2009, we had guests over during the blizzard. Out of 10 people, we were all covered with blankets and layers so that we could stay warm. Our heater cannot keep up with these cold conditions. Today it is -1 outside and the thermostat hasn't gone above 65 since Sunday, but the heater is on. My daughter and myself have both had pneumonia this past year. My husband went on Jan 3 to get on the housing list, and went back today when they told him that there are no prospective PCS, and no other homes available. Is there anything anyone can do to help my family? I know we don't rank high on the priority list, but my children are cold.
Col. Mark Weatherington
Col. Mark
Weatherington		   RESPONSE
We do not anticipate housing vacancies in Prairie View or Rushmore Heights in the near future. However, I encourage you to call the Centennial Estates Rental office at (605) 791-3181. The property Manager is Debra Cash, and I am confident she will aggressively tackle this problem.