March 5, on a warm afternoon at the Liberty Woods Community Center, something simple, but important, was happening. Beneath the shade of a large oak tree, residents, installation leaders, and housing officials gathered for a conversation about life at Fort Stewart. Chairs were arranged in a loose circle, and the mood was informal but purposeful. More than 20 residents attended the quarterly housing town hall, including three community mayors, to do one thing. Talk openly about concerns, share feedback, and learn what changes were coming to their community.

Col. Gabe Weaver, garrison commander for Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, kicked off the meeting by explaining why the event was being held outside the usual venues. The new location and relaxed setting were part of an effort to make the meetings more accessible and encourage greater participation. The idea was to meet the residents where they are and make sure that their voices are heard.

After welcoming everyone, Col. Weaver turned the floor over to Beau Bradley, the installation’s emergency manager, who spoke about an upcoming “Black Start” exercise, designed to simulate restoring power after a complete outage. To make the plan effective, officials needed information from residents, especially those who work from home or have medical needs that rely on electricity, such as refrigerated medications. That information helps the command team give recommendations to Col. Weaver and reduce risks during a real outage scenario.

Kendall Reese, the installation mayor coordinator, highlighted concerns affecting families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, particularly those who depend on specialized medical equipment or medication storage. The discussion then shifted to day-to-day housing issues, maintenance requests, work-order backlogs, and response times from housing partner Balfour Beatty Communities. Residents shared both concerns and praise, noting improvements in follow-up communication and the addition of new traffic signs throughout the neighborhood. Many also pointed out that community events have become more engaging and family-friendly, strengthening connections among neighbors.

Residents were also introduced to Anna Behm, the new senior operations director for Balfour Beatty Communities. Behm expressed her commitment to building stronger communication channels with the community. Her plan includes meeting regularly with neighborhood mayors to discuss issues directly and stay informed about residents’ needs.

"These meetings are informative and important for forward progress [and] for BBC."

Near the end of the meeting, Residents shared another concern, being the litter scattered across the post and along walking trails, which could pose hazards for children and detract from the quality of shared spaces.

Col. Weaver thanked everyone for taking the time to attend and emphasized that the feedback would help guide future improvements.

By the end of the afternoon, the chairs under the oak tree had served their purpose, bringing together a community willing to speak up and leaders ready to listen, one conversation at a time.