Steeple Repair

After 130 years, the shingles on the steeple have become damaged, and some have fallen off during high winds. The current shingles are heavy, and they also contain asbestos.In order to improve the look of the steeple as well as for safety reasons, the Property Team has determined it is time to reshingle. Earlier in the year the Congregation Council voted to contract with Krause Konstruction, experts in church steeple repair, to do the work. The congregation agreed, voting unanimously to proceed (see below for the motions from the Special Congregation meeting).

We expect the work to begin sometime in late September. The work to repair the steeple includes removing the old shingles, replacing them with new Davinci Single Width Synthetic Slate. It also includes fabricating and installing new copper roof edging, valleys and flashings, ornaments and the cross. The bulk of the project will be paid for with funds from the sale of the second parsonage in 2018, from refunds issued to Trinity from the Employee Retention Credit program, and from donations from the Roger Tollefsrud estate, WELCA, and other donations, for a total of $80,580.

The congregation also voted to replace the 12 copper ornaments on top of the gables. This will cost an additional $12-13,000. We are currently fundraising for that part of the project. If you are interested in “adopting” all or part of a copper ornament (approximately $1,000 each), please contact the office.

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On June 11, a Special Congregational meeting was held to discuss repair work to the steeple.

A motion was made and passed unanimously to hire Krause Konstruction Company of Coon Valley, WI, to replace the steeple roof at the cost of $80,580 with the following specifications:
- Remove all roofing materials from the entire steeple.
- Replace any missing or rotten wood.
- Install High Temp Ice and WaterShield to all roof surfaces.
- Fabricate and install new copper roof edging, valleys, and flashings.
- All flashings will be fabricated from 16 oz. copper.
- Copper joints will be riveted and soldered.
- Fabricate and install copper ridges, ornament, and cross.
- Install DaVinci Single Width (12’’) Synthetic Slate.
- Fabricate and install 4 corner copper cupolas.
- Fabricate and install new white fascia on steeple.

The following points were raised during discussion of the motion:
-The steeple can be lighted for an estimated $4,000 to $6,000.
-The new slate will be covered by the church’s insurance.
-The steeple roof cannot be installed until September.
-The bid includes disposal of all old roofing materials.
-$15,000 is available and set aside for this project.
-$30,000 is available from the sale of the second parsonage.
-$35,000 is available from government Employee retention Funds

A second motion was made and passed unanimously to replace the 12 copper ornaments, an estimated cost of $14,000 to $15,000.