Hello All
 
Just a short note updating everyone this July 4 ^th morning.  The outside of the church is finished, the Dri Vit has been repaired, even where rocks have hit and cracked or dented, shingles are all applied, beams and trusses have been strengthened or replaced, security camera wiring has been run, sprinkler heads have either been replaced or raised back up to grade level and wheel tracks have been smoothed over and seeded.  Total cost so far for what I just mentioned is over $300,000.  Now to the inside; we awarded bids for reconstruction last week.  CB & Sons Electric has been working since last Tuesday re-wiring everything that fell as well as removing all fluorescent fixtures preparing for new LED lighting.  The insulating crew began last Tuesday and totally insulated the parish center as well as the attic over the education wing and youth room; everything south of the parish center.  Vapor barriers have been installed and the sheet-rocking crew began last Monday.  Their objective is to be complete with all rocking by this Friday night.  Taping and finishing will take place next week as well as the new doors and case work installed beginning next week.  The new three air-conditioners servicing the parish center and gathering space have been installed and the furnaces will follow shortly.  The new gas line is installed, we have water to the kitchens and south bathroom, power to the education wing.  New doors and casework will be replaced beginning after sheetrock finishing and painting.  After painting, the new t-grid for the drop ceiling, ceiling tile and light fixtures will be installed.  At the same time, there will be a powered video screen installed in the ceiling in front of the alcove housing the crucifix and priest’s pictures, a ceiling mounted projector and an electronics cabinet across the base of the alcove to house all the electronics including the amplifier for the P.A. system.  We are not replacing the large speaker boxes; we are installing 12 speakers in the ceiling tile of the main parish center and two speakers in the ceiling tile of each wing as well as each wing having its own microphone jack for zoned use.  Our amplifier was built with this function but was never used that way.  The total of the bids to reconstruct the parish center, kitchens and entrances totaled $417,000.  The total for everything we know about is already over $725,000 with the personal property loss to be added to that number.
 
A side note;  prior to the roof collapsing, the finance council had approved replacing the three furnaces located behind the altar.  They are 23 years old, failure rates were high and expenses to maintain were getting prohibitive.  The air-conditioners in those air handlers have been installed and we are enjoying them already.  The furnace part of the systems has not yet been installed.  In total, we ordered six furnaces, got a good price because of that but that is going to cost us $20,000.  If anyone would like to make a gesture to help pay for those three furnaces, we would surely appreciate it and you would know every time you are enjoying the heat this winter or cool air, you helped pay for it.
 
To recap; the total building has now been insulated to an R-52 in the ceilings everywhere,  parish center walls insulated, the roof is safe, six of the eight furnaces will be replaced and five of the six air conditioners have been replaced, the exterior stucco (EFIS) has been totally repaired, sprinkler system works and grounds have been re-seeded.  We have established a target of September 19 as the day for the final inspection.  The only item probably not installed at that time will be the sliding walls.  The lead time is twelve weeks.  Enjoy the fourth of July today and enjoy your picnic.
 
Regards,
 
Swede Stelzer
Parish Admin.