Buildings and Grounds Report

BUILDING AND GROUND REPORT 2005

Presented by Dale Cannon, Facilities Manager, on January 29, 2006.

Entering a new era at St. John’s, we have continued in the tradition of parishioners together helping to build and rebuild, while at the same time, utilizing outside resources for the first time in helping enhance and improve the facilities.

A new sign has been erected, and the old one taken down. The old one, if you have read the web page, was erected in 1948 through the good graces of the Knudsen family. Its removal was due to the good graces of Scott and G.W. The erection of the new sign had many willing hands: GW, Scott, Richard, Bryan, Brian, Tim and others. We thank them for their enthusiastic help. We gratefully acknowledge donations financing the purchase of the new sign. Thanks go to Robert Stupp, Frank Mithen, Brian and Myra Belgeri, KOPS (Keeping Off Pounds Prayerfully), and others.

The Wainwright Wing was updated, with new flooring installed and, in March, the African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri (AMAAM) became our tenants there.

What was once the Wainwright Room, and then a Head Start classroom, and then, just a storeroom, has been cleaned out and is now our “common room”, for usage by both AMAAM and St. John’s.

The eastern stair rails were installed, with the help of GW, Rob Heritage, Kevin, Bryan Cather, others. John dropped by, ready to help and of course he is to be thanked, but we had enough cooks handling this broth.

A large albatross hanging over our head was the multitude of wood organ chamber parts and metal pipes that our vestry in the 90’s had so generously agreed to store in various places around the church grounds for a parishioner and organ repairman, now deceased. A young man from about 40 miles east of here in Illinois, who is in the process of building an entire organ, took them all. We wish him luck in his endeavor.

The centerpiece of our rebuilding is a totally repaired heating system in the nave. Where once people suffered through less than comfortable climate, now, we can relax in a balmy atmosphere and pay more attention to the sermon. For this we have to thank Charlie Dodd of Dodd Heating and Cooling. The Diocese of Missouri provided a matching grant for the repairs of the heating system; we paid approximately $8000 and the Diocese granted us the maximum matching grant of $7500.

The entry to the organ chamber was cleaned out and renovated to become the offices for the Women’s Independence Network.

The back room to downstairs 3672 is being repaired in preparation for a nursery area.

The southeast corner of the complex is being temporarily worked on in response to a neighbor’s complaint about the condition of that area, which has been about the same for 30 years, except that we have greatly improved its appearance in the past two years, cutting away brush and trees and cleaning leaves and other rubbish that had accumulated over that time.

As to the future? You will be hearing about it from time to time. You are invited to become a part of St. John’s rebuilding and building St. John’s future.