Minot AFB opens new TLF

Published Jan. 10, 2017
By Corlee Esselman
5th Force Support Squadron

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Sakakawea Inn announced the grand opening of the new Temporary Lodging Facility for families on Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Jan. 10, 2017. The $18.9 million facility was constructed with non-appropriated funds earned from the profits of lodging operations across the world.

Cori Esselman, 5th Force Support Squadron Sakakawea Inn manager, said that each time someone pays for an Air Force hotel room, $9 of the rate is sent to the AF Lodging Fund to pay for renovations and new buildings.

This new facility will replace 44-year-old modular units that had rusted support beams, high maintenance costs and frozen water pipes during extreme cold weather.

The new TLF is the culmination of years of work. In 2009, a former Mission Support Group commander realized that the current 15 TLFs were less than the number needed to serve the 5,500 base population. A project validation assessment was initiated and substantiated the need for a 30-unit TLF.

“They broke ground in the open field behind the current lodging campus in April 2015,” Esselman said. “There were several Minot contractors who were involved in the project. Construction was overseen by the US Army Corps of Engineers Minot Resident Office and was completed December 2016.”

Each of the 30 units have two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a washer and dryer to serve Air Force families moving to-and-from Minot AFB.
“These 1,000 square foot units are full service two-bedroom apartments,” Esselman said. “They are heated by ground source heat pumps, which contribute significantly to our LEED Silver certification for energy conservation.”

The new facility reflects AF Inn’s design and décor standards.
“Previously TLF facilities had both one and two bedrooms units. Now the standard is all two-bedroom units,” Esselman said. “It doesn’t matter if you only have one child, you still appreciate the ability to close their bedroom door at bed time.”

Air Force families typically own pets--to accommodate, Air Force Lodging allows up to 40 percent of TLF units to be designated pet-friendly.

“Our pet friendly units are in demand and stay 90 percent occupied.” Esselman said. “The primary difference in a pet-friendly unit is that they have vinyl floors for ease of cleaning and a large pet crate where the pets stay when their family is not at home.”

In addition, the new TLF includes two fully compliant ADA units with modified kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry facilities to accommodate family members with mobility issues.

Esselman said that not only guests will benefit from this new facility, the staff will as well.

“The existing TLFs had exterior entrances and were spread out over two different areas of base. For years, our 110-pound housekeepers had to push heavy carts through snow in -25 degree wind chill to provide service to the old units,” Esselman said. “They often had carts blow over due to high wind gusts at all times of the year.”

“Not having to deal with harsh weather conditions will make their job much safer. Now they don’t have to worry about slipping or falling.”
Esselman believes the new building will give families a greater sense of security and convenience as they make Minot AFB their home.

“This is such a great quality of life improvement for our base,” said Tech. Sgt. Jermain Smith, 5th Bomb Wing chaplain assistant. “This kind of renovation is the best way to say ‘Welcome to Minot!"