+JMJ
Dear Parishioners,
Last week we had another finance meeting. Here are some highlights:
– We reviewed the normal financial reports from the last two months: the balance sheet, the income and expense statement, the payables report. Also, one of the finance council members reported on the internal audit that she did for these two months, using diocesan protocol. Everything looked good.
– The storage building is complete, except for installing a wireless point-to-point Internet system. We ended the finance meeting with a tour of the new building. We are slowly filling the building. We're trying to coordinate drivers who can move the trailers over to the storage building; but this really can't be done until we get the Internet set up, because the trailers could be in the way of installing a wireless receiver on the outside of the building.
– We continue to consider how to acquire a forklift that will help us use the pallet racking most efficiently. We will borrow or rent a forklift to get the trailers unloaded.
– From the Diocesan Living Christ Capital Campaign, the parish has received back $99,512. Continued thanks to everybody who was so generous to this campaign; and thanks in advance for continuing to fulfill outstanding pledges!
– The Bishop's Annual Catholic Appeal, covering pastoral initiatives of the Diocese, is at 68.79% of our goal. Many thanks to those who have given to this appeal, and in advance to those who might give still before the end of the year!
– Because we were paying about $650 per month in bank fees for our accounts at Fifth-Third Bank, Deb Brickner researched what could be done. We learned that changing our bank accounts from “commercial” to “business” would greatly reduce fees. So, we switched to business accounts. We expect monthly fees now to be only around $200. Also, the credit cards connected to our general account with Fifth Third are cashback cards, so we should actually be reimbursed some money that can cover those fees.
– We paid quarterly maintenance fees for the elevator ($314), fire monitoring ($212), and alarm monitoring ($150). Then we paid $350 for a five-year inspection of the fire suppression system. These are contracted services that are required by safety codes.
– We paid $180 to replace the missing panic button kept near the organ (security button that notifies the Police Department directly in an emergency). We have no idea how it disappeared.
– We paid $2,750 for routine fall maintenance of air handlers in the dome, done by Grubb.
– We picked the color musket brown for the louvered gates Tim Reinhart is building for the cooling tanks area. This is the color of the downspouts and gutters. These aluminum gates will replace the rotted wooden ones.
– The cemetery monument is completed, except for the cross that stands tall behind the statues of Mary and John. We picked a metallic gold color for the cross, and it will be beautiful!
– There's no new news on the church lighting project. We are waiting for a quote; and the difficult thing to figure out for the quote is what the labor will be, given the need for a very high-reaching lift that can efficiently be moved around through the pews.
– So far, donors have given $7,213 towards the memorabilia cabinets. The total project will be just over $15,000 (or perhaps a bit more, since the quote is getting old). The new cabinets will house both current church memorabilia and school memorabilia. Hopefully there are parishioners and alumni who can support either or both causes.
– We ran into difficulties with the newly replaced valves in the heating system. Findlay Plumbing & Heating is working on this.
– As of the writing of this letter, we are once again looking for a full-time Maintenance Assistant. Hopefully by the time you read this letter, we have the position filled again.
There are some highlights from the meeting. I hope your Advent has gotten off to a great start!
Have a blessed week!
In cordibus Iesu, Mariae et Iosephus,
Father Poggemeyer