Parsonage Update: There will be an open house for all to see the progress made at the parsonage on Sunday, Aug. 17th until 4:00 PM.

Curt's Quality Carpentry is working on the parsonage project.  The project is to be completed by mid August.

The interior of the parsonage will be completed during the week of the 11th.  Stan will be installing the downstairs flooring and carpets toward the end of the week.  A clean-up day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16 with an open house, viewing on Sunday the 17th until 4:00 PM.

On Monday, August 4, with the local rains, a group gathered at the parsonage to help Brad Johnson finish the painting throughout the house.  On Wednesday, August 6th, Stan Zimmer laid the new flooring in the upstairs bathroom. 

On Thursday, July 10th, a group from St. John's and St. Paul worked on the house to do the "demolition" aspect of the project.  They removed the counter top, the downstairs paneling and ceiling tiles.  All salvageable materials will be included in the July 26th auction.

At the Semi-Annual meeting June 22, we be discussed and determined the extent of repair, remodeling, and renovation to be completed at the parsonage.  The quote which was presented to the congregation is listed below the recommendations.

What are the current goals?
Listed below are the recommendations from the trustees of St. Paul and St. John's that will be under consideration.

Exterior:  seamless gutters, painting of trim, new front step (current solid concrete step is tipping away from the house, causing damage), a new, modern front door, and removal of deck.

Interior: 
            Main Floor- Painting with primer throughout, replacing several light fixtures, new kitchen appliances (already donated), new counter top in kitchen, tub-surround with shower and a new vanity in the bathroom.
            Basement- Replacing several light fixtures to provide for more light, re-carpet the large room at the base of the stairs, drywall and replace the ceiling in that main room.  The bedrooms, which were never completed, need to be completed.  Egress windows are recommended in the bedrooms.  The bathroom needs a new shower, new vanity and medicine cabinet.  Another recommendation of the trustees is that the wall of the bathroom be extended, making the basement bathroom larger and more functional and add a dividing wall between the living areas and the furnace/storage area of the basement.

Estimates for the Parsonage 
Items designated Rp would classify as repair for which St John’s would be contributing 40% according to the Two-Point Parish Agreement

The quote which was presented to the Great Plains Parish congregations.  It was presented to the St. Paul congregation at the semi-annual meeting on Sunday, June 22, is as follows:

The total of bids to date = $24, 567.33
        Bids do NOT include: plumbing, electrical, painting, front door, front step, etc.

Items classified as repairs = $6642.81 
        Missing from the repair estimates are the front steps and the painting.
                (According to the two-point parish agreement, St. Paul is responsible for 60% of repairs and St. John's 40%.)

_______________
Exterior:

     Clad soffit/fascia with aluminum soffit system:

     Painting of trim: (Estimates not currently available) Rp

     Replace Front Door: to update/modernize (Estimates not included. Costs range from $200+)

     Replace Front Step: current step sinking away causing damage (Estimates not currently available) Rp
 _______________
Interior:

Kitchen:

Main Floor Bathroom:

___________
Basement: (sales, use & excise tax on entire basement project $353.00)

Family/Rec Room

East Bedroom*                     

*egress windows are listed on last page for consideration.
(This room is under the kitchen.  The window faces the street. There is a question as to whether this room would/could be utilized as a bedroom.  The only closet area is under steps, not finished, no doors, etc. It may be better suited as a downstairs office, work-out room, sewing room, storage area etc.)

West Bedroom*                    

*egress windows are listed on last page for consideration.

Basement  Bathroom

Hall area between bathroom & west bedroom

*Egress Windows:

In questions regarding the requirement of egress windows, the state’s attorney provided the following information and explanation:

The National Building Regulations, with which Bowdle’s buiding codes comply, state that egress windows are required in every room used for sleeping purpose (bedrooms) on any floor and in basements with any habitable space. 

  The further explanation stated: “If you have an existing home and add a sleeping room in the basement, the code requires that you install an egress window in each sleeping room.  Likewise, if you create any habitable space in your basement, and you currently do not have an egress window, the code requires that you install one as part of the installation of the habitable room.”

In other words, unless the basement is no more than a storage area, and the location for the furnace, water heater, etc; egress windows are required.  The requirement of egress windows is just that, a part of the building code and a requirement.  If an individual chooses to not comply, placing one’s own family at risk is one matter.  To be providing a home for another person/family, whether as a rental property or in this case, housing for employees, the requirement is very clear; each basement bedroom must contain an egress window.

Egress Windows: ($1763.61/window;  2 windows = $3527.21)

It was decided that only the west basement room would have an Egress window installed.