Date: June 9th 2010

Messenger

June 9, 2010

Update on Potentially "Sticky" Situation

As we move into our St. Louis summer, we felt it was important to update the parish on a potentially "sticky" issue we face, and share your Vestry's strategy to address it.  As you might have already guessed, our "sticky" issue involves decisions that must be made regarding repair or replacement of a portion of our HVAC systems. 

The fact is that one of our four major HVAC units is not working, and these units together cool our Sanctuary.  The cost to either repair or replace this unit is similar, and significant -- approximately $3,600.  Under typical circumstances, this would appear to be a straightforward decision.  But, because we are currently in process to replace our entire heating and cooling system, the decision is more difficult since all four of these HVAC units will soon be obsolete, and $3,600 is a large sum to spend for a short term fix for a unit that will be replaced within months.

Your Vestry continues to work diligently toward making the soundest and most responsible decisions to address Grace's HVAC needs, and we hope to have plans in place and even begin work as early as this fall.  In the meantime, we ask you to please bear with us, and understand that if it feels a bit "sticky" in our Sanctuary on humid Sunday mornings, this is the reason.  We intend to monitor the temperature, ramp up the other 3  units on Saturday afternoons in advance of Sundays that are predicted to be particularly hot, and provide electric fans should they be needed.  We welcome your feedback, and your prayers that we make the soundest decisions to care for our parish, our resources, and our facility.

With best wishes for a cool summer,

Your 2010 Vestry