Open House, Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony & 75th Anniversary Celebration
(Posted September 2, 2011)

We would like to thank all of the members, guests from our local communities, and elected officials that attended Hawkeye’s new facility Open House, Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. The event was held on Wednesday, August 31st from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.  

A short VIP/Media briefing was held to provide information regarding the history and strategic planning of the new headquarters. The ‘green’ building practices, and the state-of-the-art facility will enable employees to continue providing quality member service with advanced technology capabilities and enhanced communication opportunities. The previous headquarters was built in 1941 and had been remodeled and renovated countless times to meet the needs of the membership. It did not meet compliance issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Homeland Security along with the fact that there was minimal insulation, five independent heating/cooling systems, leaky roof problems and a deteriorating foundation. Planning started in October of 2009 and in February 2010, the process officially started with the hiring of the architect and general contractor. Overall, the 53,723 square foot headquarters was designed to position Hawkeye for opportunities down the road and to serve as a solid service base for the membership for many years to come. At the time of construction, the cooperative had access to low interest federal loans from the Rural Utilities Service to finance the construction and amortize the cost over 35 years of service. Also, the cost of construction materials and contractor pricing was very competitive with a savings of 10 to 15 percent in the total project cost.

The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony took place in the facility’s Service Center as many people gathered around to acknowledge the start of an innovative, new opportunity for the cooperative. Plaques were presented from the architect (Architectural Design Group) and general contractor (Wieser Brothers) highlighting the efforts of the board of directors and senior management team for building for a ‘greener’ tomorrow. The facility is a model for the membership to look at for further energy efficiency features.

Building tours were offered from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. giving people the opportunity to see every aspect of the new facility. Employees and directors were strategically positioned throughout the building to provide detailed information regarding their designated areas and to answer questions. A special room was designated to highlight the building construction progress with a scrapbook and time-lapse video. Another room was dedicated to celebrating the cooperative’s 75 years in business. A special history display had items from the era before electricity and two videos showcasing what life was like before electricity and the journey of the seven decades of business at the cooperative. Copies of the 96-page commemorative book, “Do You Remember When” were also handed out to attendees. If you were not able to attend the Open House event and are interested in obtaining a copy of the book, feel free to stop by the office and get your copy. (no copies will be mailed)

Attendees enjoyed an ice cream treat and lemonade as they ended their grand tour of the new headquarters facility.

“Your local electric cooperative serves nearly 6,300 homes and businesses in our three-county area and has been providing reliable electric service for the past 75 years,” says CEO Brian Krambeer. “We look forward to a bright future serving the membership.”

Read a copy of the article from the September newsletter

Pictures from the Event

(L to R): Director Carl Reicks, Representative Josh Byrnes, Senator Merlin Bartes, Mick Gomez Howard County Supervisor, Director Dennis Ptacek, Jan McGovern Howard County Supervisor, Director Dennis Young, Director Darla Rance, Director Norman Dickman, Director Charles Frana, Director Dean Fisher, Director Roger Nibaur, Director Dean Nierling, CEO Brian Krambeer, Amy Bouska Cresco City Council and Mark Bohle City of Cresco Mayor.

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