The Most Urgent Maintenance and Capital Improvement Expenditures

OUR LIST OF SPECIAL PROJECTS is growing: non-routine maintenance-related or restoration-related expenses that are warranted in the near term. This post is intended to inform the board, the membership, and prospective donors about those needs, so that we can now work together to raise the necessary funds. (These tasks are not among the restoration projects that the board has previously approved, conditional on the availability of funds.)

According to Mishkon’s Policies, an additional $20.3K of funds is supposed to be allocated by the board this fiscal year to the Maintenance Fund and the Capital Improvements Fund. When and if those funds are available, I intend to ask the powers-that-be for authorization to undertake the following items on the docket.

At this point, the associated costs are in some cases quite preliminary, yet I owe it to all of you to report what’s on the horizon ahead. They are listed in approximate order of urgency.

Restore the 6 south-facing stained glass windows: $6–12K

Description: This capital improvement task was covered in a blog post HERE. We have asked an expert for a ballpark estimate of cost. Potentially it can be funded by a donation for each window, as was done in the past.

Time frame: ASAP. (We were informed 19 years ago that these windows needed immediate attention. We are in a race against time to get them restored before one or more of them disintegrates altogether. That would make the restoration much more expensive!)

Conduct a reserve study:  $4–6K

Description: This capital improvement planning task was covered in a blog post HERE.

Time frame: ASAP, in order to plan properly the budget for next year (and beyond) and the prudent allocations of funds (e.g., proceeds from possible sale of restaurant property).

Eliminate lingering foul odor(s) in the school building: $0.2K–$20K

Description: Our staff has been complaining about odor(s). Preliminary investigations have identified multiple potential sources, including: sewer gas from an improperly handled plumbing fixture, possible dry rot under a previously leaking toilet, and possible mold in the walls. I intend to start with the easiest fixes first, and then see what kind of problem remains (if any).

Time frame: By end of June, in time for expansion of the preschool.

Prune the overgrown street tree: $0.5K

Description: Restorative pruning is needed, to fix the substandard pruning in this tree’s past. The tree crown will be helped to grow upward while its interior branching is opened up. (A second remedial treatment will be needed, but not for at least a year.) This effort costs a little more than normal maintenance.

Time frame: June/July (after the normal spring growth spurt for trees).

Conduct thermal/radar imaging to find hidden termites (capital improvement expense): $3K

Description: This capital improvement task seems to be warranted given that we cannot tent/fumigate our buildings. The next step is to find vendors who can do specialized work like this.

Time frame: Before October (when termites swarm)

Treat the front steps to reduce basement water intrusion: $1.6K

Description: This task was covered in a blog post HERE.

Time frame: Before October (rainy season).

RUNNING TOTAL: $15.3K–$43.1K