Arsenal nabs Army award for Rock Island partnership

The U.S. Army Garrison and the City of Rock Island are celebrating a partnership that led to the Rock Island Arsenal being honored with one of seven Department of the Army Community Partnership Awards in 2022. The Quad Cities-based Army installation earned the award for a 10-year intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA) signed in December 2020 […]

The U.S. Army Garrison and the City of Rock Island are celebrating a partnership that led to the Rock Island Arsenal being honored with one of seven Department of the Army Community Partnership Awards in 2022. The Quad Cities-based Army installation earned the award for a 10-year intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA) signed in December 2020 between the city and the Arsenal Garrison for  water treatment and distribution system plant operations and maintenance, waste-water collection, waste-water treatment, and exterior electrical lighting maintenance. Garrison Commander Col. Dan Mitchell said he is excited about the commendation, but not surprised because the Arsenal and the Quad Cities have shared side-by-side partnerships for more than 160 years.

“The enduring community support and partnerships with our Quad Cities neighbors has been a cornerstone of our Arsenal legacy and will continue to be the hallmark of mission success for our future,” he said in a news release. “The year 2022 marked the 160th anniversary of the Arsenal, and the Quad Cities community partnerships we have today are rooted in that history. Our workforce comes from these communities, and we share an unwavering commitment with our community partners for the best quality of life possible for our residents, families, and employees.”  The intergovernmental agreement is a win for both entities.  It gives the Arsenal the ability to leverage the City of Rock Island's experience and expertise in providing these municipal services, the garrison said in a news release. “This partnership also created a revenue stream for the City of Rock Island, which allowed them to purchase a bucket truck to be used on and off post for electrical services,” the release said. “This IGSA has promoted a bond of mutual trust and confidence in each partner’s ability to communicate, plan, and execute mutually beneficial partnerships.” According to Rock Island Public Works Director Mike Bartels, the city’s long-standing relationship with the Arsenal and the collection of the Arsenal's wastewater dates back to 1968. “Providing additional services beyond the existing wastewater collection agreement has been a goal of the city for nearly two decades and to see this partnership move forward has been very rewarding,” he told the QCBJ in a statement. “The City of Rock Island is about to enter its third year of the 10-year IGSA (Intergovernmental Support Agreement) and we are very happy with the Rock Island Arsenal partnership and the many benefits the City and the Rock Island Arsenal are receiving due to the collaboration.”  Mr. Bartels said the agreement has funded additional personnel to oversee the contract and perform other duties unrelated to the Arsenal. Other benefits to the city include additional revenue to the water, wastewater and general fund, which has allowed it to offset expenditures and assist in funding capital projects and equipment purchases. “The city is very honored and proud to have built this intergovernmental relationship and expand cost-effective services to the Rock Island Arsenal," he added.  The seven selected Army installations and their neighboring communities will be recognized during a virtual Pentagon awards ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 10-11:30 a.m., for forming innovative partnerships that improve the quality of life for soldiers and their families, enhance readiness and contribute to reform initiatives throughout the Army.  The program seeks to highlight examples of exceptional cooperation and diligence that will encourage continued collaboration to achieve the full potential of community partnerships. Awardees included partnerships signed in fiscal years 2019-2022 by garrisons, reserve centers, and armories. Submissions were evaluated based on this criteria:

• Improves Soldier/family quality of life.
• Improves or enhances readiness.
• Modernizes a service, system or process.
• Provides cost or other efficiencies.
• Expands capability.
• Improves community relations.

Senior Army leaders commended the winning installations and communities on their innovative and shared work benefitting the quality of life for all neighborhoods and families, both on and off the installation. "These partnerships are an outstanding opportunity for the installations and their communities," said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy chief of staff for installations (G-9). "These transformative partnerships will improve the quality of life for our soldiers, families and neighbors in surrounding communities, with whom we interact daily, and will simultaneously increase our level of readiness," said Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. Other installation and community award winners included: Fort Riley, Kansas, with the Unified School District 475; Fort Hood, Texas, captured several awards for partnerships with the City of Killeen and other central Texas government bodies; USAG Daegu and the Gyeong-Sang Buk Do Province, South Korea; and Fort Carson, Colorado, and the City of Fountain.