Prospect Park United Methodist Church
Better Building Committee

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BBC Update - March 2008

BBC:  Chancel Update  submitted by Sharon Kimble, on behalf of Friends of the Chancel

There have been many environmental changes in the church this past year.  (It was just last June that the work on the elevator began.)  As you are reading this the kitchen will be nearly completed.  It is nearly time for Phase Three: the chancel remodel.

The chancel remodel grew out of a desire for the choir and any readers/speakers etc to have free access to the chancel without having to negotiate steps.  There are quite a few architectural constraints in the sanctuary, perhaps the greatest of which is the organ and the reinforced area that it’s great weight rests on.

A design has been proposed by the architect which involves lowering the chancel platform by about 7 inches, raising the front of the sloped floor by about 7 inches, and ramping the difference.

An ad-hoc group, the Friends of the Chancel (FOC), met weekly for 7 weeks in February and March.  The FOC discussed how the chancel/sanctuary is used, how it will look with the implemented changes, and what details needed to be worked out regarding the choir, the altar table, seating, and environmental concerns such as lighting and sound.

At the time of this writing (March 15) no specific changes to the architect’s proposal have been made.  The group will make the following recommendations to the BBC:

• that any new furniture (chairs, altar table, pulpit/lectern) will be of wood construction and will match the color and style of the existing room
• that new matching chairs of mixed style be purchased (this means chairs with and without arms, benches/pews that seat two or three people, and folding chairs)
• a new round communion table be purchased with the current table being used else where in the building
• that the BBC recommend to Ad Council that the balcony be used as a chapel area and the current chapel become a meeting room

The members of the FOC are Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, June Whitney, Barb Backstrom, Dave Rich, Pastor Nancy, and Steve Ozanne.  Please speak with any of them or with the co-chairs of the BBC, Sharon Kimble and Dave Robinson, about questions or concerns.  The planned start date for the chancel remodel is June 2.

BBC:  Subcontractor Profile

I dislike people telling me what to do with my money.  I like to squirrel it away “in case something comes up”.  I also am intentional about spending:  is it benefiting an overseas conglomerate or my neighbor?

Build a Better Church has been spending a lot of money recently.  Your money, my money, our neighbors’ money.  We have tried to spend so the benefit is to our neighbors.  We have been working with a local contractor, Karkela, a St Louis Park company that employs about 15 people.  Karkela in turn subcontracts the work to various shops that do plumbing, electrical, carpentry etc.  One of those shops is Senne Wood Products in Watertown, Minnesota.  Arvin Senne employs 4 workers.  They build cabinets.  Custom cabinets.  He takes shop drawings from the architect and designs cabinets based on the drawings.  He visits the site to confirm the measurements, usually down to about an 1/8 of an inch for a precise fit.  He installs the cabinets himself.  Think about the trickle down effect of our money:  PPUMC to Karkela to Senne to workers building our cabinets to those workers buying groceries and clothes in Watertown.  That’s good economics.

Mr. President and the Congress have indicated that we need to be spending more to stimulate the economy.  They are so serious about this that they are sending each of us six hundred bucks in a few months, just so we can spend it.  The BBC would like you to consider upping your pledge and spending it at church.  The personal benefits are many and the economic benefits are widespread.

BBC Update - February 2008

As work on Phase 2 of our building improvement project progressed, an interesting discovery was made – there is a 5 inch difference in the height of the kitchen floor from one end to the other.  The old part of the floor, which is over the boiler, does not have adequate structural support to hold it up.  This means that support beams and posts will have to be constructed in the boiler room so our new kitchen doesn’t end up in the basement!  The posts will be strategically placed so that if the boiler ever has to be replaced, it can be moved without obstruction.

So, what does this mean in terms of finances?  The estimated cost of putting in the beams and poles is $21,000 - $22,000 dollars.  This is a lot of money; however, our numbers look like we will still come out OK.  After the fire last summer, our insurance paid to replace the damaged carpet, a cost of $15,000.  We had budgeted for this in our plans, so will not need to spend that money.  Because of Dave Robinson’s work on ventilation needs for the stove, we will save $5,000 of what we had budgeted.  Another $6,000 is available because we did not have to use money from our bank loan until December, which saved us money on interest.  We were able to do this because some people paid their pledges early.  We only used 4% of our contingency funds on Part 1 of the project, which leaves about $10,000 in that contingency fund.

What about our projected timeline for completion?  Because of this snag, we are about a month behind on the kitchen work.  Estimated time of completion of Phase 2 is around the end of March.

What does this mean for phase 3?  We anticipate that it will proceed as planned, with the remodeling starting this spring.  We also expect our financial projections to hold and that we will have enough money to complete all the projects as planned.

Thanks for your ongoing patience and support. If you have questions or would like to discuss this more, feel free to contact Sharon Kimble or Dave Robinson, our fearless leaders.

BBC Update - November 2007

By the time you read this, the elevator project will be finished!!!  (Yes, it’s appropriate to clap and dance and sing and shout and praise God right here and now)!  This means that the balcony and front entryway are also completed, along with the new youth room.  This is cause for great celebration- through the hard work and commitment of many, our vision has become reality.

The other good news is that we are financially ahead on the project compared to where we expected to be at this time.  This is because some people have paid ahead on their pledges, meaning we have not yet had to use any of our loan money from the bank.  Feel free to pay ahead on your pledges if you wish, as this benefits PPUMC financially.

Thanks to everyone for being patient with dust, altered exits and spaces, changing timelines, and all the other messes that come with growth.  A special thanks to Dave Robinson, who has been at church almost daily for the last few months managing the projects, and  to Sharon Kimble for her vision and leadership on this project.  We salute you!

BBC Update - August 2007

--Submitted by Kelley Rae Jewett

Those of you who have been around the church recently may have witnessed the big dumpster out front, the plastic sheets blocking off stairways, and the dust everywhere. This is good news- our elevator project is well under way after a 5 week delay caused by getting building permit approvals.  Since the work began, it has remained on schedule and there have been no major contingency costs so far.

July 30 was a big day- the big blue cement truck poured four and a half tons of cement into the elevator pit.  With the foundation in place, building the hoistway is next.

While the visible work is impressive, there is also a lot of behind-the scenes work going on that is just as important.  We would like to thank all those who have contributed to the success of our project; if anyone is omitted, please forgive the oversight and let us know about it!

Special thanks to:

• Steve Ozanne for leading the process of getting all required approvals from the conference

• Steve Ozanne and Kristi Adams, securing financing with Metrowest Builders & Park Bank

• Jeff Hammergren and Alpha Lundquist for signing off on our new mortgage

• Liz Pierce for getting all the paperwork together

• Lucy Suits and Kate Wulf for providing valuable financial expertise

• Laura Dillon for her music, prayers, and spiritual leadership

• John Kari and Liz Richards for kitchen planning

• Jan Ekern and Tom Townsend for their lay leadership

• Nathan Lockhart and Morgan Jellison for their safety patrol work on Sunday mornings

• Mary Parish and Sharon Kimble for cooking and serving a meal for the work crew

• John Nielsen and Sharon Kimble for ripping up tiles in the nursery

• Pastor Nancy for her support

• Dave Robinson, Sharon Kimble and Steve Ozanne for their leadership of the BBC committee, and all other members of the committee.  Steve has officially completed his term as co-chair of the committee; Dave is overseeing the implementation of the contract and Sharon is managing the cash flow and paying of bills.

• Everyone for watching the children, helping clean up after construction, and maintaining good cheer in the midst of the mess

• All who have provided financial support so that we might make our vision a reality.

We celebrate the overflowing abundance that continues to be manifest through our building project, and look forward to what’s ahead!

BBC UPDATE - May 2007

The BBC has been hard at work getting everything in order so that we can begin construction of the elevator in June, 2007 as originally planned.  Below is a summary of the recent main events:

1)  Carl Robertson of Sjoquist Architects has completed drawings for the sanctuary, kitchen and elevator- the drawings are available at church for anyone who wants to see them.

2)  Karkela Construction has given their final bids for the projects.

3)  On May 12, there was an unanimous vote (25 people voting, one abstention) at the all-church meeting to move ahead with the following:

The committee recommends proceeding on the building project with the following parameters:

Commercial elevator with an interior mechanical room, kitchen remodeling, and chancel remodeling as outlined in the construction documents provided by Carl Robertson of Sjoquist Architects.  Cost as bid by Karkela Construction plus and electrical upgrade from 200 to 400 amps, construction loan initiation and payoff, and a 10% contingency fund is $527,000.

This project will be financed by previous monies on hand designated to the building fund, monies raised form the capital fund drive, and a mortgage not to exceed $150,000.

You may recall that our initial estimate for the cost of the work was $412,000.  The increase in the estimate is due in large part to the cost of upgrading our electrical system, as well as adding in 10% for contingencies.  The cost of financing is also added in, which is estimated to be about $20,000.

4)  Because the cost for the projects is more than what we initially expected, we will be taking a $100,000 loan from Metro West Builders, as well as a $50,000 mortgage from a bank.  This will add about $1,550.00 to our monthly general budget expenses, which represents about 13% of our total budget.  Money will be borrowed and used in the order that is most financially beneficial to us.  We currently have $385, 959 in money and pledges on hand.

5)  There has been a lot of discussion at church about the best use of space, as well as making the entryway more welcoming.  One idea that has been suggested is putting the offices where the nursery is now, and putting the nursery upstairs where the offices and Christian Education room are.  Plans have been drawn for these projects, with an estimated total cost of $150,000.  The BBC recognizes the value of these projects, but we do not have the funding to do them now.  This set of projects has become the Proposed Phase IV; no concrete plans will be made for them now.  They will be considered if funding becomes available.

6)  Timeline for Projects:

• Elevator (Phase I):  June, 2007, approximately 12 weeks to completion

• Kitchen (Phase II):  December, 2007, approximately 8 weeks to completion

• Chancel (Phase III):  June 2008, approximately 10 weeks to completion

• The new roof and tuck pointing will also be done.

7)  CAUTION- MEN AND WOMEN AT WORK!!! During the remodeling, there will be areas of the church that are off limits, the organ will be covered for protection, and there will probably be messes and dust.  We ask everyone’s cooperation in graciously putting up with the inconveniences that are a part of our change and growth.  Safety is of utmost importance- please stay out of marked or taped off areas and help our young people remember to do this, too.

Thanks for all your hard work and generosity that has gotten us this far- we are truly blessed with an abundance of love and giving in our church community.

Submitted by Kelley Rae Jewett

Capital Campaign News -- April 15, 2007

Today as I was raking my yard and delighting in the tender young plants buried under last years’ leaves, I was awed by this new life that bursts forth each spring.  I was reminded of the new life that has burst forth in our church over the past several months, including the recently- ended capital campaign.  When the BBC committee set our fundraising goal of $300,000, we knew it was a stretch for our congregation.  We also felt that we were ready to stretch and to step out in faith, knowing that the congregation had overwhelmingly supported our vision of making our building more accessible and hospitable.

Well, we did it!  As of today (April 15), our gifts and pledges for the capital campaign total $300, 544.  This is testimony to the commitment and vision of our congregation, as well as the value our church has to friends and neighbors. The energy, conversations and community that have developed through this process are also exciting- let’s continue to nurture those seeds and tender shoots that seem to show up in sometimes unexpected places.  Thanks to all who have given in so many ways; we are truly blessed with overflowing abundance. -Kelley Rae Jewett

Capital Campaign Kickoff Thank you! -- March 11, 2007

Thanks to all for making our kickoff on March 11th a huge success! Our service included a new hymn, “That All May Be Lifted”, written by Laura Dillon for our campaign, as well as a moving Capital Campaign Witness by Stu Anderson.  The children had the opportunity to put pennies in a jar for the building projects, and Pastor Nancy spoke to us about mysteries of the heart.  A new Campaign banner adorned the sanctuary.

The excitement and spirit continued in Fellowship Hall with a delicious brunch prepared and served by Liz Richards and the youth.  The Church Cheerleader (aka Kristi Adams) made an appearance during brunch, and surprised and delighted the crowd with her antics.

The capital campaign will end on April 1, with a dedication and celebration of our pledges.  Our fundraising goal is $300,000- we have over $162,000 in pledges and money towards that already!  Neighbors and friends of PPUMC have been sending gifts and letters in appreciation of what the church has meant in their lives.  Look for the table in Fellowship Hall with the pink-ribboned basket on it- it will hold a scrapbook with remembrances and photos from friends and neighbors, as well as pledge cards and pamphlets about the campaign.

We appreciate the work and commitment of everyone to this process of sharing our abundance and working towards our visions of Inclusive Hospitality, Accessibility Justice, and Building Stewardship.

BBC Update - March 2007

You have been hearing a lot about the capital campaign, but what is happening with the building project itself?  It certainly hasn’t been on hold the last 6 weeks!  The committee has confirmed the selection of Sjoquist and Associates as architects for the project and have put them to work on drawing up the detailed plans needed for getting accurate bids on the different elements of the project.  It is necessary to keep moving on multiple fronts, to be ready to start with the construction in early June.

With the major design decisions approved at the church conference on February 11, the committee started working on the details that go into making the architect’s designs something that we can all be excited about.  These details are key to assuring that the major projects of elevator, kitchen and sanctuary are smoothly integrated into the fabric of the church programs as well as the physical fabric of the building.  This means considering many aspects such as the storage needs and usage patterns for Sunday school, Wednesday evening activities, choir, etc..  This information will be provided to the architect to inform his designs.

The committee will be receiving occasional preliminary design information from the architect.  In turn, feedback will be provided back to the architect to keep the process on track toward meeting our needs effectively and without undue expense.

Some of the considerations which have already gone into this process include:

• The possibility of moving the office down to the first level (the current nursery space) to be more accessible to the entrance.

• The possibility of moving the nursery closer to the sanctuary (the current office space).

Watch the BBC bulletin board in the fellowship hall for samples of this information as it becomes available.

  -- Steve Ozanne, Co-Chair BBC Committee

BBC UPDATE - February 12, 2007

Greetings to all.  Before I begin the official update, I would like to thank you all for your support and affirmation of this committee and its work.  Many people have shared their thoughts, ideas, and concerns, and many have expressed appreciation for the work of the committee.  Everyone in our community is an essential part of this process, and we look forward to your continued input and involvement in these exciting times.

Now, for the big news. . .(drum roll, please)

On February 5, the BBC presented the following recommendation to the Administrative Board:

The committee recommends a building project of the following scope:

Commercial elevator of approximately 18 sq. feet to be installed in the east stairwell area with an interior mechanical room, kitchen remodeling as proposed by architect, and chancel remodeling as proposed by architect.  Current total estimated cost is $414,500 of which approximately $9,000 has already been paid out to the architect and $42,000 is on hand.  The project will be financed by a capital fund drive with a proposed goal of $300,000 and augmented with a mortgage not to exceed $100,000.

A church conference is scheduled for Sunday, February 11.  Voting will take place to approve initiating the capital fund drive, and moving forward with more detailed architectural plans and construction costs. 

Final approval for the projects themselves will occur after the fund drive is complete and more exact costs are known. 

After time for discussion and questions, the Ad Board reached consensus to approve the recommendation as written and proceed with the all-church meeting and vote.

The all-church meeting was convened by Pastor Nancy on Sunday, February 11, after church.  The above recommendation was presented by Sharon Kimble, co-chair of the BBC; she also presented the rationale for each decision made by the committee.  It was also clarified that replacing the roof and repairing exterior leaks (tuck pointing) are not on the table for discussion- they will be done no matter what because it’s a necessary part of maintaining our building (the costs for these are included in the total above).

After a time of questions, clarifications, and discussion, the congregation voted on whether or not to approve the above recommendation of the BBC, specifically empowering the committee to proceed with getting more detailed architectural plans and construction costs, and moving forward with the capital campaign.  The ballot count was 34 yes, 2 no.  We are wasting no time in proceeding to the next step, as the Steering Committee for the Capital Campaign will be meeting on Tuesday, February 13 to begin planning the campaign.  The capital campaign will begin on March 11 and end on Palm Sunday, April 1.

The Steering Committee currently consists of the following people:

• Chair: Kristi Adams

• Events Committee Chair:  Liz Richards

• Spiritual Life Committee Chair:   Laura Dillon

• Publicity Committee Chair:   Kelley Rae Jewett 

• Members at Large:

  • Toby LaBonte

  • John Holmquist  

  • Carol Aasen

  • Barb Backstrom

This committee will meet weekly for the next 10 weeks and you can look forward to more mailings and information as the campaign takes shape.  As always, we covet your prayers and participation in the process.

We are planning another church meeting and vote in May after we have detailed architectural drawings and know how much money we have raised in our capitol campaign.  We hope to begin construction of the elevator on June 4; that project will take about 12 weeks to complete.

Stay tuned. . .

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