Weekly update from Crystal Mersh, Foundation President
Welp Mr. Shamblin had to come to terms with the fact that they are going to be building a swimming pool in the mud. He is a lovely man from Ravenswood who has built a large proportion of the recreational size swimming pools in WV. He told me that he had to go to the Milton pool that he just finished this past Sunday and there were 300 people there enjoying the sun and water. Looking forward to when we can see happy lil faces swimming around. The pool team has been working on plumbing installation this week and framing up the sides to get ready for block work. Once they have the details dialed in as they do now, it will start to move fast.
The bath house is done. We were there investigating the pad that will be needed to be poured to add on the Tiki Taco Hut and for the entrance into the pool, as well as the entrance into the pool house. Jeremy Hardway and I also had a look at how the walking track will circle behind the bath house and we think that this will allow us to virtually keep the same path which is great. We will have a traffic crossing of people at the entrance and the path but i am sure we can manage that.
The bus garage is coming right along. They hung 8 new windows, the two sliders, 2 doors and the Hope door this week. And they are working to complete the bright red tin siding. Shelia Burch and I were talking about the good deal we got on the windows and doors, and I told her that we will have to paint some cause one is tan and one is brown and the others are white. She told me she always got her windows at that outlet and that she liked it because they were imperfect. When she said that it resonated, therefore we will not be painting those two windows. We will leave them to signify that we are all imperfect and it’s ok to be that way.
The bus garage is turning out exactly as planned and looks better than I could have imagined. Once we are complete, we will begin looking for folks who may want to be part of a Recreational Cooperative providing kayaks, tubes, ATV activities, and outfitters expeditions.
The asbestos removal continues and is almost complete. We are going to need to go back and claw back some money from the folks who were supposed to have done it and didn’t do a good job. Accountability is my middle name….and folks need to be accountable.
The arena football field needs the rocks removed, grass seed and mulch and it is done.
We are pricing steel and preparing the steel package. There will be lots of steel for bracing and the entire new building will be cold form steel. Let’s hope we get a good price. Cam is also working on concrete pricing.
We are also working on permitting which is a learning process for all. We are grateful to have Michael Plato working with us to make sure we get all the permitting in order and provide all the drawings and documents needed.
We are coming down the home stretch to closing on the tax credits. Robin Mersh wired the money yesterday and it should be hitting Calhoun Banks as we speak to fund the project in full. It was a stressful day yesterday with all this happening. I am so grateful for my husband who has supported my crazy ideas on more than one occasion – this being the most recent.
We are working on planning all of our events until year end and we are excited about all of them. The Alumni Football game, the Volunteers Picnic, and the Fall Festival will be all coming soon.
It has been a great week and a productive week. Let’s all get a little rest this weekend and be ready for a new and exciting week on Monday. All my very best to you and yours.
