Community Projects

Part of the Heart of the North Builders Association’s mission is to donate time and talent to worthy community projects. Requests for community projects are reviewed by the Community Projects committee, and those deemed appropriate for the Association’s involvement are brought to the Board of Directors for review and approval. Organizations wanting the Association’s assistance in their building projects are asked to download and complete the PROJECT ASSISTANCE REQUEST FORM and submit it for review.

Rice Lake Area Free Clinic Fundraiser--2014

HNBA was approached by the Rice Lake Area Free Clinic to build Adirondack-style chairs for a fundraiser. The chairs will be distributed to various community members and civic groups to be painted, embellished, or otherwise customized. The finished products will then be raffled off at various venues and events throughout the summer of 2014.

On May 28, several members and member-employees gathered at Finewood Inc. to begin cutting materials and assembling the chairs. By the end of the day, they had 21 completed chairs ready for customizing!

Rice Lake Area Free Clinic serves uninsured residents of Washburn, Rusk & Barron Counties, providing medical care including office visits, diagnostic tests and medications free of charge to needy patients. In 2013, they served over 440 patients with more than 800 office visits.

THANKS TO:
Mike Crotteau and Bruce Abshire—project coordinators
Finewood Inc—use of tools, space and labor
Arrow Building Center—lumber
Lampert Lumber—lumber
MAC Construction of Barron County—laborers
Don Katterhagen of Katty Kunstruction—labor
Terry Koleski of Indianhead Insurance—labor
Darryl Buse of Lamperts—labor
Kitchen & Floor Décor, lunch

Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County/
Lincoln Clubhouse--2011

HNBA was happy to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County re-purpose Lincoln Elementary School into their newest facility, the Lincoln Clubhouse. Thanks to the many HNBA members who stepped up and donated time, talent and materials to this project. The kids of Barron County appreciate it!

Rice Lake Area Free Clinic--2010

HNBA was approached to help remodel office space to serve the needs of the new Rice Lake Area Free Clinic, whose goal is to provide medical services to those who otherwise cannot afford it. HNBA members helped with demolition, framing, drywall installation, woodwork, and electrical work, and also donated flooring and cabinetry.

Thanks go out to:

MAC Construction of Barron County
Don Dostal Electric
Creative Woodworking
Finewood Inc
Spectrum Painting
Kitchen & Floor Decor
Lamperts, Rice Lake

Picnic Pavilion at Canton Ball Field--2009

The Town of Sumner had materials, but needed labor to construct a picnic pavilion at the softball field. Charter member Don Katterhagen of Katty Kunstruction headed up the project, organized work days, and got the project completed in three work days.

Thanks to all who contributed time and/or materials to this project.

Katty Kunstruction (labor)
Sunderland Construction (labor)
Brueggen Home Construction (labor)
DP Carpentry & Remodeling (labor)
Watertight Foundation Systems (labor)
Clint Doege Construction (crane service)
Don Dostal Electric (wiring)
Harms Concrete (concrete prep)
H & E Ready Mix (black dirt)
Kurshinsky Drafting & Design (plans)
Lamperts--Rice Lake (materials)
Hometown Title Co. (workday lunch)
Johnson Bank (workday lunch)
Sweetwater Sanitation (portable toilet)
T-Bird Concrete (concrete work)
Todd's Redi-Mix (concrete)

National Lumbering Hall of Fame Site Work--2008-09

Construction of a National Lumbering Hall of Fame has been a dream in Rice Lake for decades. While eventual construction of a museum near the new boat ramp above the dam on Rice Lake remains a goal, the Tree Walk is an initial step. The Hall of Fame group re-established the lake shore on the peninsula and created an educational experience which included the planting of about 70 trees and shrubs. The area will be used by Rice Lake schools and the public.

Headed up by former member Pat Mattmiller of Dobiehill Timberworks, a group from HNBA volunteered their time and talent to construct, install and stain split-rail fencing, informational sign holders, tree-walk identifications and a large timber-framed kiosk which will house changeable informational signage. Those who helped on the project include Dobiehill Timberworks, Brueggen Home Construction, Katty Kunstruction, Clint Doege Construction, MAC Construction of Barron Cty, Spectrum Painting, and Lampert Yards (donated roofing boards).

Habitat For Humanity—2006

HNBA was approached by Habitat for Humanity in the Fall of 2006 to build a handicapped-accessible house on Sawyer Street in Rice Lake. With winter fast approaching and the deadline for Habitat to complete the house looming, the members of HNBA went into action. Lead by Mike Crotteau of MAC Construction of Barron County, Inc., the house was framed and enclosed within 2 weeks. In January of 2007, a wheel-chair bound single mother and her daughter moved into their new home.

Hunters Memorial Park—2005-2006

A ceremonial groundbreaking held on August 1, 2005, marked a giant step in the commitment that HNBA made for constructing the Hunter’s Memorial Park. The committee’s chairperson, Dan Rassbach of Arrow Building Center-Rice Lake, spoke to the crowd of over 200 stating that HNBA’s goal for the park was to help the community heal by creating an outdoor place where families can be together to relax, play, and reflect. Along with playground equipment, a pavilion with rest rooms and a food serving area, a basketball court and open green spaces, there is also a special memorial to the victims of the November 2004 shootings to “remind us of the active lives they led, and to remind us to focus on enjoying life in the outdoors with our family and friends”.

The official ribbon cutting and dedication for the Hunter’s Memorial Park on North Linden Ave. in Rice Lake took place on Monday, August 7, 2006. At that time, the park was gifted to the City of Rice Lake.

Eagle Point (Cumberland) Restroom Upgrade--2004

A group of HNBA members have put forth a great effort at Eagle Point in Cumberland upgrading the restroom facility to make it handicap accessible while also restructuring the roof, some walls and the soffit. Work on the project began in early November and interior work was completed in December. A big thanks goes out to all those who were involved in this project. It is in working together that we can grow this association to its full potential in order to be a benefit to not only the members but also the community that it serves.

Ladysmith’s Memorial Park Pavilion—2003

Visitorscan enjoy the new pavilion at Memorial Park in Ladysmith thanks to volunteers of the HNBA who completed the project in August 2003. The Association pledged to build the pavilion as a way to help Ladysmith recover from the devastating Labor Day tornado of 2002.

Paul Manka of Menards in Rice Lake chaired the project. Major donations for materials came from Louisiana Pacific, Hayward; D.C. Crete; Xcel Energy; Lamperts, Rice Lake; and Menards, Rice Lake.