RAGBRAI 2010

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Becky is off riding cross Iowa for RAGBRAI again this year.  While I don’t understand it, I respect the effort she puts into it.  She has ridden nearly 1000 miles in preparation.  The ride this year is about 450 miles.  There is one day that is a Century Day where they add a loop to make the total day 100 miles.  That would add extra miles to the 450.  She never decides about doing the Century Loop until she sees how she feels that day and what the weather conditions are.  She has ridden it about half the time.  (This is her eighth time at RAGBRAI.)

10,000 people are selected by lottery to ride the whole route from west to east across the state.  5,000 additional riders register as day riders for any given day.  They estimate an additional 5,000 unregistered riders also participate each day.

Cold showers, Fair food and camping each night…  not my thing.

Becky emails me updates on the ride which I send out to those that are interested.  If you’re not already on the list and want to be, let me know.

Remnant Trust Update

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Demolition underway on the interior.

We are moving ahead with work at The Remnant Trust project in Winona Lake.  Demolition is nearly complete and we have begun framing walls.  An existing stage, an existing fireplace mock-up and miscellaneous display walls had to be removed.  Most of the existing interior was finished in tongue & groove car siding.  Let’s just say the original installer believed that if a whole lot of nails were good, even more would be better.

The Remnant Trust Building. Picture from Scearce Rudisel Architects Website.

Because of the type of protection for artifacts required here, special effort is being made for security as well as for Fire Protection and HVAC controls.  The existing building previously housed the Billy Sunday Museum.  The previous use has presented some challenges, but fortunately the original building construction was recent and most of the construction and existing systems are in good shape.

There have been a few changes as we’ve gotten into the project, but as always, the plans prepared by Scearce Rudisel Architects have provided the necessary guidance.  Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan is always a pragmatic Architect and she works well with us.  We both maintain the goal of achieving the best possible project for our mutual client.

Mike Pence Quote

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Mike Pence

“If God can live on 10 percent, why can’t government get by on 20?” – Mike Pence

Mike Pence represents Indiana’s 6th Congressional District.

 

As relayed by Indiana State Representative Phi Hinkle in a forum with the Indiana Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) State Board if Directors Meeting, July 21, 2010.

Mary Ellen Jordan Quote

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“I have decided I am only allowed to complain about the weather in one season.  I choose Winter.”  –  Mary Ellen Jordan

From a conversation regarding an on-site meeting last week when the temperature was in the mid-nineties and Mary Ellen was dressed for a forthcoming presentation meeting.

Mary Ellen is Principal Architect with Scearce Rudisel Architects in Warsaw, Indiana.

EPA Certified Renovator

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Tuesday I attended (and passed! perfect score!) an 8 hour class at the St. Joseph County Health Department taught under the auspices of Environmental Management Institute to become an EPA Certified Renovator.  Believe it or not, I will be sent a new photo ID attesting to my knowledge in this area.  This is a new requirement the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put into effect for contractors working on renovation and repair projects on Target Housing or A Child Occupied Facilities where lead paint may be present.

From the Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting Student Manual:

Target Housing is a home or residential unit built on or before December 31, 1977, except:

  • Housing designated for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any child who is less than 6 years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing).
  • Any zero-bedroom dwelling (e.g. studio apartments, hospitals, hotels, dormitories, etc.).

A Child-Occupied Facilityis a pre-1978 building that meets all three of the criteria below:

  • Visited regularly by the same child, under 6 years of age.
  • The visits are on at least two different days within any week (Sunday through Saturday period), provided that each day’s visit lasts at least 3 hours.
  • Combined weekly visits last at least 6 hours, and the combined annual visits last at least 60 hours.

Child-occupied facilities may be located in a public or commercial building or in target housing.  These facilities include schools, child care facilities, and daycare centers.

I now know more about lead poisoning and lead paint than I want to know!  It’s going to take some time to figure out how or if we want to participate in this market and how that decision will affect our business.  In any case I have taken the first step for Easterday Construction Co., Inc. to participate in these projects safely and legally.  The next step to consider is applying to be a Certified Firm.

The regulation is currently in flux.  During the class we discussed several things that had already changed since the regulation initially went into effect on April 22, 2010.  If you want to read the latest on this regulation as well as learn how to protect yourself and your family, visit the lead section of the EPA website here.