With our Porte-cochere on our North Building driveway finally complete, the Building and Grounds Committee has turned its attention to four new projects to implement this summer and fall.
The first project is the Third Phase of our Security Upgrade Project. This project will add additional security cameras both inside and outside our buildings, additional and better lighting in our parking lot and electronic access to our North Building doors. The project has been bid and awarded to Murph Alert and Mid-Atlantic for a total cost of $62,300. The project is funded by a grant through the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA). Project implementation will occur this summer and fall.
The second project is the construction of a playground near our Pavilion. Following a Congregation Workshop on Saturday, April 20, 2024, the Committee developed a scope for the project and solicited bids. In June the project was awarded to Miracle Recreation for a total cost of $34,675.97. The equipment is currently being fabricated and will be delivered and installed in the early fall.
The third project, associated with the playground, is the construction of a fence along our driveway and College Road to help prevent our children from running into the streets when they are using the play areas around the Pavilion lot. While we have developed a project scope, we have not yet selected a contractor for this project. Installation of the fence is expected later this summer or early fall.
The fourth project is the construction of additional sidewalks associated with our future expansion and our playground project. We will be constructing a sidewalk connection between the South Building parking lot access and the North Building porte-cochere. This sidewalk will be needed when the Connector Building goes under construction. We will also construct some additional sidewalks and crosswalks to provide the safe pathway between the North Building and the playground requested by our youth leaders and young parents at the Congregation Workshop.
Our Financial Report shows that we remain well within our allotted budget ($34,000) for the year, with $11,834.94 costs to-date for the first 9 months of our Fiscal Year. Likewise, we are within budget ($42,600) for our utility and insurance costs with expenses through May totaling $35,248.22. We have $78,893.60 in our major project reserve savings account, with most of these funds earmarked for the playground project and a future chair replacement project. We also have $50,000 in our emergency contingency fund. In addition, the Building Fund received a rebate of $10,000 from our porte-cochere project and now has a balance of $25,924.73. The remainder of this fund will be combined with the Future Growth Savings Account, once the sidewalk project is complete.
To help balance the budget for next Fiscal Year, project funds will be cut by 37.5%, so the ability to continue to do small projects around the church will be more limited for at least one year. The Committee again extends our appreciation to all the volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to maintain the gardens around our site. They keep our site well maintained throughout the year. We still have some islands available for landscape adoption. If anyone or group is willing to add Spring mulch, do seasonal weeding and add seasonal flowers (if desired) to beautify these areas, please contact Mike Arthur (Facility Manager) or the church office.
Questions on any Building and Grounds project can be directed to Mike Arthur (Facility Manager) or any of our committee members; John Tullis, Jay Pearson, Robert Jones, Greg Eroe, Dave Brown, Fred Janssen, Bill Spady, James Markoya, Adam Colaprete and Ray Harbeson (Chair). New Committee Members are welcome at any time. Please contact Mike Arthur, Ray Harbeson or any of our pastors, if interested in adding your expertise to our team.