First of the Month Building Update

Hopefully you have received the letter that was mailed to every family on the PCC mailing list this week. Some people let me know that they got theirs today. In it, we promised an update on this blog on at least the 1st of every month, though I intend to do it more often than that. Today is Aug 1 (can you believe it?) so here is what we know that is new at this point.

First, as was mentioned in the letter, the meeting with the mediator occurred on July 16. We thought we would hear a response this week from the former builder about a possible framework for a settlement that was proposed on July 16. We were told we would get some kind of a response in 10 days. Earlier this week we inquired through our attorney about the status, but as of the writing of this post there has still been no response from the former builder either directly or through his attorney.

Second, the letter was from the PCC Steering Team. Though they signed it, I want to be sure you know who they are. The current members of the PCC Steering Team are: Brenda Boggs, Carol Brooks, Ray Crews, Tim Dickson, Anna Holland, Rachel Huff, Brian Hughes, Shelton King, Angela Meadows, John Tiller, Matt Towler and Andy Vaughn. The Senior Pastor serves perpetually on this team. The other members are elected at the annual membership meeting in accordance with our bylaws and serve for 3 years. They are charged with protecting our church and they are on the frontlines of any tenuous situation like the one we are working through now.

During the past couple of weeks, we have:

• Worked with the electrician and they are mobilizing again
• Routed the septic line out of the building
• Contained the mold, removed damaged sheetrock and treated affected areas
• Sealed the building so that no water can get in
• Secured the building
• Met with Powhatan County soil and erosion control folks and developed a gameplan and timeline for some of the soil work left to be done
• Had some trees removed behind the office trailer to prep for the earth moving operation
• Retrofitted site to be OSHA safe. Put up temp handrails where needed, barricades as required, signage, and proper lighting
• Waterproofed first floor walls and elevator shaft that should have been done by the former builder. These are walls where moisture was coming through and contributing to our mold issues
• Dug out, formed and framed pads for HVAC units. On the surface this does not seem like a lot of work but it represents a LOT of work
• Installed hundreds of feet of piping to attach our gutter downspouts to allow proper runoff of rain water
• Laid out and dug footings for Portico Chere. Waiting on county inspection next week and we will pour the footings
• Worked on loading ramp in rear of building. Filled ramp with concrete and stone. (not completed yet but getting there)
• Formed and poured sills for doors in upstairs wing. This was a major reason water was coming in the building
• Went through hardware package to get ready to put hardware on exterior doors (doors need to be painted first – met with Leader of Aesthetics team on colors for door frames – should have color by Sunday and corresponding paint next week)
  

During the next couple of weeks, we intend to:

• Begin the process of finishing the installation of the heat and air systems. This will take a few weeks to finish, because a mechanical permit has to be secured from the county
• Finish installing the final exterior windows and doors (frames and glass)
• Schedule the erection of the timber frame Portico
• Investigate and make decisions on alternative flooring options to save money
• Investigate and make decisions on options regarding the plumbing trim-out (fixtures, etc.)
• Mobilize the bulldozer so that we can move the dirt from behind the building and do the rough grade
• Hire an OSHA consultant to be sure our building site is in compliance
• Hire an outside, independent engineer to issue an opinion on the state and quality of the building construction at the time the former builder stopped working
• Coordinate with the attorney to move from the mediation part of our dispute to the arbitration process. (A settlement can still be reached during this period, but this way we are ensured to begin the timeline on the next phase of the resolution procedure and, therefore, we ensure the process will happen as quickly as possible)

Don't forget about the important meeting we told you about in the letter. August 18, 7pm, at the Village Building in Powhatan. This is immediately next door to May Memorial Baptist Church in the Village. Call our office if you don't know where that is.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayer during this season. By the way, I have personally and professionally learned a lot through this, and some of the learning is still in formation. Are there some things I would do differently if I had it all to do over again? You bet! There will be a time of broad reflection to talk about what we've learned when this is over. But the good news for me is that God uses trials to help shape us and to prepare us to help others. I'm grateful that God sends people to encourage us during these times.

A special thanks to all of you who have gone out of your way to reach out and tell us that you are with us!