A program authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force brought electricians to Minot to help Minot Air Force Base airmen with their flood-damaged homes. The electricians lived at the base while here.
"The limiting factor on getting more electricians in to work on the houses owned by Minot AFB airmen was finding them a place to stay. There were no motel rooms available and no apartments to rent," said Lt. Col. Matthew Jefson, commander of the base's 5th Civil Engineer Squadron.
"To alleviate the problem," Jefson said, "Minot AFB, as approved by the Secretary of the Air Force, offered dormitory rooms to electricians so they would have a place to stay, but with the stipulation that they would work on airmen's homes.
Jefson said a total of 18 contractor employees, most from North Dakota but several from Minnesota, took advantage of the dormitory rooms.
"They would work for local contractors and their work would be signed off as meeting code by a licensed electrician in the employ of that contractor. These electricians did not volunteer their time but were paid by the contractor, who, in turn, actually had contracts with and were paid by the airmen homeowners," Jefson said.
Electricians, both military members and civilian employees of the Air Force, are not certified by the state of North Dakota. They are trained through an Air Force process that is quite rigorous and extensive but can only work on Air Force assets, Jefson said. He said civilian contractors are either journeymen electricians licensed by the state or work under the direction of a licensed electrician who signs off that their work has been inspected and meets the National Electric Code.
The authority from the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the rooms at the base expired Dec. 26 so all the electricians have either left the area or have found alternate housing, Jefson said.
Michele Tasista, a spokeswoman for Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale AFB, La., said the Air Force's authorization helped to ensure the winterization of 167 Minot area homes. She said the authorization was in place from Oct. 3, 2011, to Dec. 26, 2011, when the personnel were authorized under the program to support Minot airmen requirements. Up to $250,000 was authorized by the Air Force for the program.
"All airmen who desired to "winterize" their homes have completed that task so the immediate need for electricians' support has been fulfilled," Jefson said.
Last week, Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed an executive order that opened the door for volunteer electricians to come to Minot to help with flood repairs. Faith-based groups had asked for the expedited means to bring in volunteer electricians to help people who are, for various reasons, unable to repair their own homes. The executive order will allow the electrical board to speed the temporary licensing of electricians who are already licensed in other states so they can rewire houses damaged in the 2011 flooding. The electrical board also agreed to waive annual licensing fees.