January 2010

Listed below are many of the significant accomplishments which occurred during the 2009 leadership year for the Saint Paul Lutheran Church Building and Property Ministry. (This list does not include ongoing and recurrent building and property maintenance / lawn mowing, alley power-washing, etc. — which were also performed by the building and property ministry)

1. Five new ultra-water-efficiency (1.1 gallon/flush) toilets were installed in the men's (2 toilets) and women's (3 toilets) restrooms ... replacing 5 antiquated and leaking 3.5 gal/flush toilets. Adam Vellinga, a St. Paul Partner in Ministry, made possible the purchase of the toilets.
   
   Adam, Jeff Steen, Jim Jackman, Mike Wallin and Bill Fleming all provided the necessary labor for this significant building improvement. The toilets have functioned well during 2009 at the Street Reach feeding program and throughout the week with very few problems.
   
   
2. A new boiler modulation panel was purchased and installed to aid in the efficient operation of the St. Paul heating and cooling system. Circulating pumps have been oiled regularly to help prevent pump failures. One pump failed on the very first day of the 2009 property ministry term.
   
   
3. A brand new 40 gallon domestic hot-water storage tank was installed after the existing storage tank ruptured. With luck and prayers, St. Paul received a very generous donation of this new tank from Earl Wernlein of Wern Air in Denver. Mr. Wernlein sourced a new "scratch-and-dent" hot-water storage tank from a supplier who donated the tank to St. Paul and charged for only the labor to install the tank ... saving the congregation over $1,000.
   
   
4. Semi-annual preventive maintenance checks were performed on the Saint Paul air-conditioner (chiller) located at the top of our bell tower. The chiller, the size of a small bedroom, makes possible the cooling of our church building during the summer months. We installed 224 square feet of metal hardware-cloth covering over the exterior of the chiller housing. This will prevent squirrels from nesting in the chiller housing and damaging / chewing and eating the intricate electrical wiring within the chiller housing ... which squirrels did during February of 2009.
   
   The aluminum condensing coils were thoroughly cleaned, over a two day period, ensuring the efficient operation of the chiller while preventing avoidable compressor failures. A replacement of any one or all 3 of the compressors associated with the air- conditioning system would require a crane to lift the compressor to the very top of our bell tower. This would be a significant expense ... an annual thorough cleaning of these aluminum coils is absolutely necessary.
   
   
5. Saint Paul suffered an arson attempt on the southeast corner of the building next to the red entrance doors. Significant smoke damage occurred to the building exterior and a Plexiglas stained glass window covering melted. In addition, the outdoor metal faucet "melted" with the extreme heat as a result of the accelerant used to start the fire. Insurance covered the restoration of the church facade as well as covered other costs (faucet replacement, etc.) less our deductible.
   
   
6. Custom made wrought iron exterior garden hose cages (with a classic cathedral design) were constructed for the west and south sides of the church building. We commissioned a creative apprentice master iron worker who developed the design and constructed the aesthetically appealing,  durable and tamper-proof cages. Both cages were constructed and installed for under $1,000.
   
   
7. Brand new chicken-wire covering was attached / installed over the large openings on all four sides of the church bell tower. The previous chicken-wire covering was destroyed and never replaced during the installation of the air-conditioning system at the top of the bell tower during the recent renovation. This protective covering will prevent pigeons, squirrels and other rodents from accessing this area ... preventing degradation of the bell tower.
   
   
8. Eight metal doorways (including both elevator entrances) were scraped, sanded and repainted with corner-guards installed to protect the doorways' new paint from being marred and chipped. New metal kick-plates were installed on the two doors leading into the church from the columbarium.
   
   Two coats of stain were applied to all natural wood exterior doorways into the church. The doors at the top of our steps and the doorways into the church from the columbarium had applied fresh protective coats of weather-resistant wood stain.