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The Renovation Diaries: Volume 4
A bi-weekly update of the progress on the Avon Theater Expansion Project
This is the fourth in a series of updates on the physical progress and financial status of our building construction project. These updates are a first-person account (mine) of the latest goings-on with the theater expansion project. Any opinions, speculations, or editorializing hereafter does not necessarily represent the opinions of Clinton County Showcase or its board of directors, past or present, individually or collectively.
There are some people reading this who frequent the expansion, just to visit… to walk around… to admire the space… to envision the finished product… or to “just be.” You know who you are. Some of the neighbors are mistaking you for homeless people.
In all seriousness, it is good to stop by and check it out as frequently as possible. It shows that we care. It’s a good idea to make sure there are no actual homeless people living in the basement. It eliminates other passersby or potential vandals from “messing around” on this structure what we in the insurance biz call an “attractive nuisance.”
Speaking of insurance, I’ve been in contact with our theater’s insurance guy Bill Foppe and increased our building coverage by $60,000. Both of us were a little embarrassed that we didn’t do this earlier; however, the coverage change will take place immediately, before our August policy renewal… just in case.
Tips from Roger:
1. Trenching and gutters to drain the rain into the storm drain in the alley. There’s a lot less ground surface area behind the building now… meaning our already-present water drainage problems will get worse, not better.
2. Seal the foundation area at the front of the building with something between the blocks; there’s no mortar. If wind/ice/moisture get underneath the lobby floor, it could lead to frozen pipes. Rob Persing accidentally dropped a pack of cigarettes into the crawlspace area beneath the flooring, so he found some motivation to crawl beneath there and agreed we need to seal this up with a spray-in, expandable substance.
3. $30/hour plumber. Yep, Roger found one. Awesome.
4. Find some pro-bono electrical labor. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge to Mr. Kuper.
Boys and girls, we have a basement and a roof and walls and metal siding. This is the bestest, most funnest clubhouse Uncle Roger ever built!
Take a peek at the financials below, and start thinking about CCS’ future financial priorities. There will be quite a bit of interior finish work to be completed on our new backstage area. This is non-essential from the audience’s point of view, but we might consider some of the items absolutely essential from the volunteers’ point of view. For example, if we have funds remaining in the $60,000 budget, will we want to spend them on “something” backstage? If we don’t have funds left and need to free up some more money for additional fixtures, is this something that will take precedence over an alternative expenditure? These are the questions that will haunt future monthly meetings.
One last piece of information I wish to share… The Treasurer has not yet needed to transfer any of CCS’ savings account funds to pay any of the renovation bills. The cash flow with memberships coming in and renovation payments going out has been sustainable via our checking account only. I know this won’t last, but I never thought it would last this long. With some expected youth musical revenues arriving very soon, and some August musical revenues arriving shortly after that, this status MIGHT be sustainable all summer. That would be sweet.
Submitted by Steve Klostermann, Expansion Committee Chair
June 28, 2011The Renovation Diaries: Volume 3
A bi-weekly update of the progress on the Avon Theater Expansion Project
This is the third in a series of updates on the physical progress and financial status of our building construction project. These updates are a first-person account (mine) of the latest goings-on with the theater expansion project. Any opinions, speculations, or editorializing hereafter does not necessarily represent the opinions of Clinton County Showcase or its board of directors, past or present, individually or collectively.
I thought I’d best summarize the past two weeks’ progress on the theater expansion with a song. Although my music-writing skills are limited, I take great pride in my ability to lyricize. So without further ado, I present a slightly original musical composition, “There’s a Hole in the Back of the Theater.” Melody: “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea.” (You know the tune: “There’s a frog on the bump on the branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea…”)
There’s a hole in the back of the theater
There’s a hole in the back of the theater
There’s a hole, there’s a hole
There’s a hole in the back of the theater
There’s a floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a floor, there’s a floor
There’s a floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s some steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s some steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s some steps, there’s some steps
There’s some steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a bill, there’s a bill
There’s a bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a payment for the bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a payment for the bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
There’s a payment, there’s a payment
There’s a payment for the bill for the steps in the floor on the hole in the back of the theater
The big hole behind the theater has thus become a whole bunch of wood. It reminds me of the way the backstage area of the park looked before our group discovered that crazy invention: metal. Not quite a shanty-town… and the wood’s a little nicer, but a non-descript wooden structure behind a stage. But I digress.
It’s definitely taking shape. It is easier to identify rooms and imagine uses for the “new space.” Other than the bills referenced above, I haven’t received any other renovation-related expenses. I have not yet transferred any of our savings account funds into our checking account, but upon receipt of a few more major expenses, I’m certain this will happen soon.
Meanwhile, it’s a good time to think about recruiting some new “Friends of the Avon.”
STEVE KLOSTERMANN
Expansion Committee Chair
06/09/2011
The Renovation Diaries: Volume 2
A bi-weekly update of the progress on the Avon Theater Expansion Project
This is the second in a series of updates on the physical progress and financial status of our building construction project. These updates are a first-person account (mine) of the latest goings-on with the theater expansion project. Any opinions, speculations, or editorializing hereafter does not necessarily represent the opinions of Clinton County Showcase or its board of directors, past or present, individually or collectively.
Most people have noticed by now that we have a basement. It will soon be a swimming pool. Additional basement work has been slowed by the rain and waiting for the arrival of support pillars and beams. However, I learned this morning that Roger has picked up these items from Lowe’s. No one else could beat Lowe’s prices. Nobody. (I will now send a bill to Lowe’s for this commercial message).
And speaking of prices… the first “major payment” has been drafted for the demolition, hauling, and basement: $11,126.75. It has been suggested that we can offset this cost by placing Pat Kreher in a dunking booth suspended over our theater swimming pool. Pat is thinking it over.
The next few weeks should see things like floors and walls begin to develop. Although tempting to speculate on a sooner-than-expected estimated completion date, we will continue to publicize our completion date as “in time for October rehearsals and performances.”
STEVE KLOSTERMANN
Expansion Committee Chair
5/26/2011
The Renovation Diaries: Volume 1
A bi-weekly update of the progress on the Avon Theater Expansion Project
This is the first in a series of updates on the physical progress and financial status of our building construction project, sometimes known as the “building renovation,” formerly referred to as “phase four,” officially known as the “expansion project,” frequently referred to as “where’d the green room go?” and more recently dubbed “the big hole behind the theater.” Whatever you choose to call it, hopefully we all know what we’re talking about.
The forthcoming updates will be a first-person account (mine) of what’s been happening on the project. Any opinions, speculations, or editorializing hereafter does not necessarily represent the opinions of Clinton County Showcase or its board of directors, past or present, individually or collectively.
Preliminary stuff was completed in the final days of April, aka the monsoon season. The trailer was recycled (thanks Rob), the truck was relocated to Poettker Construction’s lot (thanks Deanna), and the storage building was relocated to a location outside Carlyle (thanks Pat & Roger & a few others). To date, we have received no bill for moving the storage building (thanks Virgil).
Although we posed for photo ops, staged a ceremonial groundbreaking, and mingled with the mayor after the annual gala on Sunday, May 1st, the project did not officially begin until Tuesday, May 3rd. I met briefly with Jamie Schulte on Monday, May 2nd, but all real work was prevented by one of the season’s unwelcome rainstorms… as well as a certain CCS member’s Chevy Impala with a dead battery parked behind the building. But mostly the rain.
May 3 – May 5: Destruction of the green room occurred. Many people took notice. Most comments were statements of curiosity, excitement, and – for some of us – giddiness. I highly recommend hanging around with a “giddy” Pat Kreher once in awhile. It’s entertaining. Some photos began circulating around facebook.
May 8 – May 12: Digging commenced, along with pouring the basement footings and initial framing of the basement. Many calls were placed to utility companies (thanks Pat!); a temporary utility pole was erected by the city. Pat got into a shoving match with an Ameren employee, and eventually challenged him to a pistol-duel at sunrise. The duel was deemed unnecessary as Jamie and company were able to dig around the gas line for now.
Jamie indicated a high likelihood of our box office phone line being cut; however, as of 4:00 today, the phone is still working. If this happens, we will contact AT&T to re-route the line above ground, and eventually consider re-locating the main phone line to the back of the building rather than the front. I’m no expert on digging basements, but this guy’s ability to dig around phone lines and gas lines is impressive.
The Port-a-Pottie Dilemma: Youth musical director Deanna Ratermann correctly observed that children sometimes need to pee. Her KC education is beginning to shine through. As there are some upcoming events at the theater involving children (youth musical auditions/rehearsals, day care graduation ceremony), we ordered a portable toilet service to handle this potential problem. We will cancel this service as soon as our Maintenance Director finishes digging the Persing Honorary Latrine. Or until we can resume the building’s water/plumbing. Hence, the $240.00 port-a-pottie bill is the first (and thus far only) expansion project bill paid to date. For those of you keeping track at home, that leaves us with $59,760 still allocated to the project.
In addition to lots and lots of facebook buzz and a recent journalistic masterpiece featured in the Carlyle Union Banner about the project (thanks Christi), we will see some additional press on the project very soon. Our groundbreaking photo was featured in the Journal today (thanks Lois – or whoever submitted this), and I know Paul is working something up as well. Thanks to all who submitted quotes for him.
I try to stop by the work site once a day to keep an eye on progress, but I know Patrick has been there A LOT these past two weeks. Next time you see him, buy this guy a beer. Just don’t give him any cigarettes or he’ll never leave your side. And Deanna has been compiling a copious photo diary of the progress. Check out her photos next time you see her. But don’t bother trying to buy her a beer; I heard she’s giving up drinking.
STEVE KLOSTERMANN
Expansion Committee Chair
5/12/2011
