Members of the Union Church Governing Board hope to have a certificate of occupancy soon for the building after they follow through with a new plan for the remainder of the restoration process.
After reviewing the initial restoration plan, the governing board decided some of the steps were premature. So trustee Michael Gingell, who represents the township board on the governing board, said a group of no more than 12 people would be going into the church to decide what was left to be done before it could get a certificate of occupancy.
That plan would then be presented to the township board for its approval. The board agreed to allow the volunteers into the church.
‘This step is needed,? Gingell said. ‘There’s been a lot of discussion about what are the next steps to move this forward and get the details aligned.
‘This is very critical to getting the project moving again.?
Clerk Jill Bastian wanted to know if what the board was being asked to approve would be able to happen before or after the certificate of occupancy had been issued, since people would technically being going into the church. Gingell said waivers from the township would be signed prior to entering the building.
‘To go in and do this is what they have to do to get the C of O,? said building official Tom Berger.
Gingell said a date could be arranged with buildings and grounds director Reenae Tulip, supervisor Jerry Dywasuk and himself to make sure people could get in the building.
‘Work is not going to occur,? Gingell said. ‘This is more of an assessment.?
Items identified by the governing board to be assessed as being an issue for getting a certificate of occupancy include parking, restrooms, door hardware, and electrical (including emergency lighting).