Archive about Main Street and the Community Center

August 3, 2002

The City of Rolfe has given Meyer Construction Inc. the go ahead to build the exterior frame of the town's new multi-purpose building. The new Main Street facility will house Rolfe's library, community center, and city hall.

The bidding was opened on July 10, and Meyer Construction, located in Sumner, submitted the lowest bid. The company will now prepare a final set of plans to be approved by the city council on August 14. The contract specifies that the exterior shell of the building be completed by November 14. 

Local contractors and volunteers will pour the cement floor for the facility during a break in building activity during the fall months. Then after November 15, they will begin work on the interior of the building.
    

August 3, 2002

The Rolfe Enrichment committee, which is the main force behind the new community center, has announced two new fund-raising projects. It has created a design for a tapestry throw depicting scenes from Rolfe and the surrounding area. The committee is also recruiting recipes for a cookbook. The committee is selling both items and will have them ready for delivery in time for Christmas presents.
   

The new building will house the city hall, community center, and the library, as well as a 680-square-foot meeting room. The estimated total cost for the construction is $385,000. A USDA grant and pledges and contributions raised to date total about $285,000, so another $100,000 remains to be raised.

The benefit auction April 27 raised $7464. The supper brought in $1200. Matching funds from the Lutheran Brotherhood AAL #9316 and #7936 of $800 brought the total raised that evening near $10,000. 

A Letter from Rolfe Enrichment, City of Rolfe, 
and the Rolfe Public Library — April 11, 2002

Dear Friends of Rolfe,

The City of Rolfe is currently finalizing plans for a new library/community center/city hall. This project will be built in 2002. Rolfe Enrichment, a non-profit organization, was formed to oversee this project. Directors of Rolfe Enrichment are: Penny Clayton, Dan Duitscher, Dan Heissel, Sue Reigelsberger, and Bill Winkleblack. Rolfe Enrichment is working with the Rolfe City Council on the planning, the fundraising, and the construction of this new building. We would like to share with you our plans for Rolfe's future.

Library

The Rolfe Public Library is literally bursting at the seams in its current location. The current library has approximately 1000 square feet of floor space and three computers (only one of which has internet access). The new library will contain 2924 square feet of library space, six computer stations (four with internet access), a children's area, a teen booth, an adult lounge, and a specious librarian's reference area.

Community Center

The previous community center was demolished earlier this year for safety reasons. The new community center will have approximately 2800 square feet and will have an additional 280 square feet for kitchen facilities. This community center could hold over 200 people for events such as wedding receptions, class reunions, and other celebrations.

City Hall

The current city hall contains two offices and city council chambers. The city council chambers are very small which limits public attendance at any council meetings. The new city hall will have three offices. The office layout would afford better privacy for the city administrator and the police chief.

This new building will also contain a 680 square foot meeting room for library use, city council chambers, and community use.

We are asking for your help. Estimate construction cost of this project is $385,000. A USDA Grant and pledge money has already gotten this project off the ground, but YOU can get it built! We still need over $100,000.

The attached page contains information on how you can make a difference in this project and a link to a donation form. Thank you for your generosity toward this project and for your support of Rolfe.

Rolfe Enrichment 
City of Rolfe 
Rolfe Public Library

For further information, contact the directors of the Rolfe Enrichment committee: Penny Clayton, Dan Duitscher, Dan Heissel, Sue Reigelsberger, and Bill Winkleblack.

Address: Rolfe Enrichment; P O Box 2; Rolfe, IA 50581-0002

Bill Winkleblack with the Rolfe Enrichment Committee
(he is the most convenient member of the committee to reach and can be contacted at the Rolfe State Bank where he is the executive vice president) 

Bank telephone: 712-848-3480
Bank e-mail address: rlfstbnk.ncn.net

Rolfe City Hall

Telephone: 712-848-3124
Address: 320 Garfield; Rolfe, Iowa, 50581
E-mail address: rolfe@ncn.net
     

The winter of 2000-2001 wreaked havoc on a lot of property, and one of the worst hit was the Community Building in Rolfe. The roof did not survive the winter, and the building was found to be unsafe. The need for a new community center was evident. With the hope of receiving a grant from USDA Rural Development, planning began for a new multi-use building, one that would serve as a community center, library, and city hall.

Rolfe Enrichment, a non-profit corporation, was formed to over-see this project. The Directors of Rolfe Enrichment are Penny Clayton, Dan Duitscher, Dan Heissel, Sue Reigelsberger, and Bill Winkleblack. The Directors first order of business, was to see about the demolition, excavation, and fill of the proposed site for the new building. Luft & Son Inc/Alan Brandhoij submitted the low bid for the project, and were hired by Rolfe Enrichment to proceed with the demolition.

Demolition day was August 29, 2001. Luft and Brandhoij started on the east walls of the buildings, and it quickly became apparent that the buildings were even more unstable than originally thought. Due to the closeness of the Gunderson Law Office, and the possibility of damage to that building, many local people were pressed into work. The contents of the Gunderson building were moved to the former medical clinic across the street for safekeeping. The streets of Rolfe were busy all day with curious onlookers, and by late afternoon quite a crowd had gathered. The only thing left standing was the south wall of the Community Center.

Cables were attached, and the wall was pulled to the north. Unfortunately, the mortar in the wall gave way, and the top portion of the wall fell to the south, directly onto the Gunderson Law Office. Contrary to some Rolfe speculation, that was NOT supposed to happen, and Rolfe Enrichment, City Council, and Mayor Sumner regret the outcome. Our sincere apologies again go out to the Gundersons, who have been extremely understanding during this time of inconvenience.

Good news was to follow. The local radios and newspapers reported that the City of Rolfe was the recipient of the USDA Rural Development Grant for $167,500. It looked for a time like no grants would be approved in the State of Iowa, so this was welcome news. Obviously, this would not cover the entire cost of the new building, but with money already pledged, and the support of the community, the Community Center/Library/City Hall was a reality.

Original plans were for an 88 x 90 frame building, with the community center on the north, library on the south, and city hall in the center. The library and community center would each be approximately 3100 square feet and the city hall approximately 1000 square feet. But after the unfortunate accident that took the Gunderson building, the Gundersons have given the City of Rolfe the lots where their building was located. In return, the City of Rolfe gave them 2 lots south of the alley to rebuild their law office on. This gives us the opportunity to adjust the dimensions tentatively to 130 x 70, maintaining approximately the same square feet, of the new building. By making the building longer and not as deep, the rooms within will be more square, therefore more cost efficient; the construction costs less due to the change of roof line, wiring issues, and other items. It will also fill the north half of that block, making our main street look more beautiful.

So, what’s next, right?? The lots will be left to settle over the winter. During that time, the architectural drawings will be completed, and the bidding specifications drawn up. Late winter, we will begin the bidding process for the contractors. Hopefully, the foundation can be poured as soon as spring allows, and the construction will follow throughout the summer and fall. How long will it take?? We don’t know. We hope by next winter we can be putting the finishing touches on the inside of the building. What can you do?? Volunteer. We will need volunteers to help with fund raising. We will need volunteers to help with construction. Down the road we will need painting done inside. We have a lot of talented people in our community. We can use that talent!! But most importantly, BE POSITIVE. The Mayor, City Council, and Directors of Rolfe Enrichment are excited about this project. We hope you will be also.
   

Archives of Rolfe News Items Written for the RHS Web Site
    
08/30/2001    Razing of Landmark Building Damages Main Street Law Office
09/05/2001    Rolfe Receives Grant for New Building
    

Painting at top of page by the late Darlene Brinkman, former mayor of Rolfe.

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