New elevator to be installed at church

A major improvement project now underway will make the Gallatin United Methodist Church more handicapped accessible.

Work began this week to install a new 3-stop elevator in the southwest corner of the church building. The project will also include new angle parking along the south side of the church building which faces Van Buren Street. Parking spaces for six handicapped designated vehicles and one space for van parking will have convenient access to the elevator entrance.

Estimated costs involved total about $40,000, a sum which may be diminished by volunteer labor and donated materials. The purchase and installation of the elevator mechanism, an Access Elevator delivered from Omaha, NE, amounts to $21,500. The elevator has a 700-pound capacity and features two doorways to allow for 90-degree entry/exit.

The church congregation has been contemplating improvements to make the church building more accessible for the past five years. Trustees spearheading the effort are Wayne Wood, Chairman; Edgar Muller, Bob Aulgur, Carol Weaver, Bill Hunt, Dale Alexander, and Nancy Terry. Pastor Buck Ceuni-Smith says the improvements will benefit the entire community.

“The focus of this effort is to turn our church building into a community building,” Rev. Ceuni- Smith says. “We have made application for grant funding which would make our church available to anyone wanting to use it.”

Completion of the elevator project is targeted for mid-June.