New state rules on elevator installation are drawing fire from small churches and some legislators. It used to be o-k to install elevators designed for home use in a church but rules which took effect a year ago require the use of what’s called a LULA — a “Limited Use, Limited Application” elevator. A LULA costs about 30-thousand dollars while a lower-grade residential elevator costs about half as much. Keri Kelsey of the state labor division says only five other states allow the cheaper elevators in churches. The other 45 states, like Iowa, require the sturdier LULA elevator.Kelsey says residential elevators can only carry 750 pounds, and the doors aren’t very safe. She says two children were recently killed in the cheaper residential-style elevator. Gregg Rogers installs elevators, and says “residential” elevators aren’t very safe. He says the doors have to be opened by hand, and in a church you end up having the elevators being used as a regular elevator.Legislators are hearing from other small churches, and some lawmakers may file a petition seeking to undo the elevator rules. For example, Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Center — a congregation of 200 — wanted to install the cheaper elevator, but state officials denied their request for a waiver. Church member Melissa O’Rourke says “if the purpose of government is to interfere in our lives and tell churches what…to do, then we can rest assured our tax dollars are hard at work here in the state of Iowa.”
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