This is the seventh edition of my Desk Notes. I got a number of responses to my query as to whether I should continue with these Desk Notes through the academic year. The consensus seems to be that they furnish some good information or, failing that, a bit of a diversion in a busy day. That being the case, I will continue sending these out until the FCC intervenes. For those of you who have more than enough e-mail, please just hit “delete” when you see the Desk Notes subject or, better yet, set up a rule that automatically will send it to the trash bin.

This particular edition will be a little harder to write, as a lot of the summer construction is completed and we are in the close-out phase. Having said that, there is still a lot going on, and I will attempt to highlight the more interesting/intrusive actions. The Academic Custodial Shop is front and center again. They have been placing hand sanitizers throughout the school to help combat the H1N1 virus. There are mixed views on how effective these hand sanitizers might be, but, even if it only helps take the peak off the outbreak by a little, I think it is worth it. For myself, I am using them, and I haven’t gotten the flu … yet.

The plumbers and utility workers were busy yesterday repairing a 6-inch water main that gave way on the northwest corner of Red Square. The callout came Saturday night, but we were able to isolate the area of the main that failed and get a large crew in here Sunday morning to dig it up and repair it. Again, I am indebted to the responsiveness of my crews who answer the call regardless of time of day or weather. We can’t do it without them.

We need to adjust the signage in and around the new bike pathways, as pointed out by several of you who responded to the last column. We need to take down some signage and add some others. We are working to get that done as fast as possible. The traffic alteration for personnel going behind the construction area to Parking Lots 10G and 8G seems to have had some success. However, a few pedestrians and bicyclists are still using the access road behind Miller Hall, despite the fact that there are only two narrow lanes with no shoulders and no place to seek refuge if a vehicle operator is not paying attention.  We will be adding some more signage in the hopes that we can convince everyone that it is not really safe for pedestrians and bicyclists to use that route as a shortcut.

The Miller Hall demolition is in full swing now. We are continuing with the demolition of walls, ceilings and finishes at Miller Hall. The fourth floor is done, the third floor is done and work is beginning on the second floor now. Cutting of the concrete floor slab on the fourth floor will begin next week, so heads up everyone (or should I say “Ears closed!?”). All demolished material is being sorted and transported to a recycling center. We are currently able to recycle 80 percent of the material coming out of the building.

The Parks Hall ground floor is completed, except for the signage. The Facilities Management sign machine broke, and we had to ship it back to Atlanta to get it fixed … twice. They have assured us that this time it will be fully operational. No one is betting a lot of money on that statement.

I am going to again make note of the brown bag sessions for the Draft Climate Action Plan. You will recall that this is a plan required by Western’s signature on the Presidents’ Climate Commitment, and it outlines how Western can become Green House Gas Neutral comparatively soon through the purchase of offsets. The Office of Sustainability will be sponsoring three presentations during October to acquaint the campus community with the Climate Action Plan. Brown bag sessions will be held:

• Noon Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Science Lecture (SMATE) Building Room 110
• 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in Science Lecture (SMATE) Building Room 140
• 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in Viking Union Room 462 A&B

As the Draft Climate Action Plan makes several recommendations that have resources implications, I would like to recommend that you attend one of these sessions and acquaint yourself with the recommendations and provide input to the Office of Sustainability so that the final draft truly reflects the perspectives of the Western community.

We are refurbishing a portion of High Street Hall again for about the 600th time. The hall is a modular building that was built in 1970 to meet a temporary space shortage. Facilities Management directors have been trying to get it torn down ever since, to no avail. We are just too short of space on the campus, so we continually refurbish sections. Once we get done, it will have new carpet, paint, upgraded data and telecomm as well as a fixed roof.  I guess I shouldn’t complain. If High Street Hall wasn’t there, I might end up having to move people into my receiving warehouse (Note to Space Management: That is a joke, not an offer!).

The Humanities Building ventilation project is complete with final balancing completed.  The project has substantially improved the airflow into the center stack of the building.  Thanks to everyone in that building for putting up with the work this summer!

The new domestic water pumps for Environmental Studies are functioning well. The new emergency generator will be placed into the pump house on Oct. 6. There will be a crane in Parking Lot 17G to do this. The new pump and generator are scheduled to be tested on Oct. 15.

We upgraded the classroom mediation in Environmental Studies Room345, Arntzen Hall Room 12, Arntzen Hall Room 100 and Fraser Hall Room 4. The sliding whiteboard in Fraser 4 was damaged in shipment but was installed and is working. It may need to be replaced to not void warranty at a future date.

The structural steel frame for the Chemistry Building addition is erected. Metal decking is in place. During the next few weeks, exterior cladding and roofing will be installed. It is anticipated that the project will be fully enclosed by the end of October in preparation for winter weather. Mechanical and electrical installations for new research labs within the existing building are in progress.

This week, the contractor is texturing and painting all the walls and hanging the grid for ceiling tiles in the Wilson Library Special Collections project. They are finishing ceramic tile, ceilings and electrical and plumbing trim in the fifth floor bathrooms. Toilet partitions and accessories will be installed next week, and the bathrooms will be open for public use the week after.

Shannon Point Marine Center: The seawater pumps are working!  The seawater pumps are working!

“Yeah, but they are delivering too much entrained oxygen.”

“What’s entrained oxygen?”

“It’s bad for the seawater critters in the experiments.”

“Who asked you?  Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“Do you realize that you are arguing with yourself…and losing???”

“Ummm…I guess it’s time to say goodnight?”

“No kidding.”

Goodnight, Western

-Tim