Renovation & Maintenance Update

 

West End Hall Renovations

The building committee has engaged a consultant to draw up preliminary plans for the
renovations of the bathrooms and kitchen in the hall.

Several problems with the present building code surfaced with current suggestions for the renovations. Also the code will become more rigorous in next year's revision. It seems better to make a decision within the next couple of months and apply for permits before the code changes.

In addition we are not compliant with the health department for commercial food
preparation. The reason is that many of the appliances are not NSF approved. We were told last year that the refrigerators and freezers could not be home appliances. Those were removed. This year we are told that all appliances must be NSF approved, i.e. commercial. This includes the microwave ovens, built-in ovens, stove tops, vent-a-hood, and sinks. In addition there are code problems with the electrical service in the pantry and the floor drain in the kitchen. We will try to get a variance until the renovations can be made. But it seems clear that we will have to do more to the kitchen sooner than we had planned if we want to keep our food preparation license.

The current thinking (August 15, 2005) is that the women's bathroom would be where
the confessionals were and the men's bathroom would be where the nursery was. An
electrical closet and mop sink would have to be built to enclose the electrical panels in
the former nursery to separate them from the bathroom. The kitchen pantry may be able to be enlarged depending on the configuration of the storage area behind the kitchen (old bathrooms) for chairs and tables. It seems that the kitchen may be completely changed with the elimination of the island, addition of commercial range with oven, convection oven, commercial dishwasher, triple sink, garbage disposal, grease trap, and perhaps stainless steel counters. The two meeting rooms (across from the old bathrooms) would be renovated and the built-in closet removed, but the rooms would remain mostly unchanged.

Again these are just preliminary thoughts. No decision has been made. But it is necessary to have plans in place and apply for permits within the next few months. Of course, no construction can be done until there is money to pay for it. We will get the UIM renovation rebate money in January, 2006. At the present we hope to receive about $7,000 in rebates. Hopefully that amount will significantly increase or not much will be able to be done.

So there is plenty of time to discuss the changes, hear everyone's suggestions, come up with better ideas, and decide on a plan that will best serve the parish's needs.

Although we already have the general permission from the diocese to proceed, we will
need to have the final plans and appropriations approved by the diocesan construction
and renovations office.

I encourage you to speak with Gary Stevens, chairman of the building committee, and other members to express your desires and ideas for these areas and suggestions to help increase the UIM building and renovation fund. The building committee will be working closely with the finance council and the pastoral council.

Please keep this project in your prayers so that we can all be good stewards and together find the best way to serve with what we have (and to be able to pay for it!).