Several hot button topics made it to the forefront of Tuesday's scheduled virtual townhall meeting via Facebook.

I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord Commander, Lt. Gen. Randy George briefed online watchers regarding not only COVID-related impacts, but also base housing concerns, and the opening of the new Children's Museum on Lewis-Main.

"I hope everyone is enjoying that amazing weather we've had out here at JBLM recently," George started.

Here's a recap of information shared:

Housing

"We've known and been working on the time it takes to actually turn a (base) house," George said. "And we've been working on that - and that had been taking too long."

George said base officials have been addressing this issue with the housing contractor, Lincoln Military Housing. Lincoln has hired additional maintenance personnel and "is looking for more ways to bring in additional folks to help."

George said through those efforts the number of "turns" or houses becoming available according to Defense Department standards have doubled."

Lincoln officials said currently 55 homes are being assigned to new families per week in the past four weeks, and last week, 77 homes were assigned. Four areas on base will be available over the next 30 days - Hillside, New Hillside, Clarkdale, and Parkway. Wait times for housing are available at JBLMc.com

George said officials are also looking to improve communication so wait times for housing are better known.

George also said new families can participate in an "interactive" May 11 bus tour of the base - more details to come.

Pharmacy

"Nobody likes to wait - nobody likes long wait times," George said.

As of Monday, the pharmacy lobby at Madigan is operating at 50 percent capacity for the first time since COVID initially brought the base to a near standstill over a year ago.

"I did see some happy customers over there yesterday," George said of the increased access.

Besides the main lobby, George said the pharmacy drive thru will return for refills only, and some check in procedures will improve. He also announced a new texting service that will notify patients when their medications are available for pick up, as well as news of a refill pharmacy opening in the PX in July.

Children's Museum

The new JBLM Children's Museum, operated by the Tacoma Children's Museum will be "officially" welcomed to the base this Saturday during the JBLM Kids' Fest event presented by MWR. The ribbon cutting is open to DoD card holders at 10 a.m. The museum is located in the old roller-skating rink across from the JBLM Bowling Alley. For more information about Kids' Fest see jblm.armymwr.com. For information on playing at the Museum, see playtacoma.org/about/jblm-satellite.

Youth Sports

Programs are back in person on base for children with a few spots currently still available in youth golf. Beginning May 3, registration opens for youth baseball plus Fall soccer. Coaches are still needed for all sports programs.