Step by Step: Volunteers Bring New Life to CLACC with Donated Flooring
- claccdig
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
by Wendy Schoggins
When opportunity knocked, Clear Lake Area Community Center (CLACC) volunteers didn’t hesitate to answer. This is a story about a flooring project, but it’s really about dedication, determination, and grit. At the heart of it all is our beloved community center and the community that loves it.
Last year, CLACC tenants, Stephanie and Mike Thomas, Simple Thyme Studios (Room 311), tipped off the center about a data warehouse in Shoreview, Minnesota, that was planning to dispose of nearly 10,000 square feet of ESD flooring tiles. With less than 24 hours to act, CLACC volunteers sprang into action to make sure the material didn’t go to waste - or to a landfill. [Read that article here.]
In early September 2024, a team of volunteers rented the largest U-Haul truck available (thanks to Ray Cress for donating!) and made the trip to Shoreview. Because the truck deck sat lower than the loading dock, each tile—weighing about eight pounds—had to be hand-loaded into the truck. By day’s end, this crew—Ray Cress, Tim Wyss, Eric Wood, and Wendy Schoggins—had moved over four tons of flooring and hauled it all back to Clear Lake. And, boy, were we tired.
But it didn’t end there! Unloading was no small task either. The same crew—joined by a few extra helping hands, Ken Cress, Ron Cress, and Tom Aasmundrud—spent hours moving the tiles into storage along the hallway to the Event Center, where they remained for nearly a year awaiting installation.
You may remember that earlier this Summer, the flooring in the gym hallway was removed as part of an asbestos abatement project. Funded through a WEDC Site Assessment Grant (SAG), secured by Tim Wyss and our successful grant committee led by Muriel Nelson, the work required not only taking up the old flooring but also removing the asbestos adhesive beneath it. It may all seem arbitrary, but this is actually why we got all that donated flooring.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) tile is the type of flooring used in facilities that need to control static electricity—such as rooms filled with computers, servers, or sensitive electronics. The material, made of heavy-duty plastic, is engineered to handle incredible weight—up to 30,000 pounds—strong enough that forklifts and heavy machinery could drive on it.
While CLACC doesn’t need to worry about static shocks or warehouse traffic, this durable flooring means one thing for sure: it’s built to last. We’re confident it will serve the building—and our community—for many generations to come.
Now, thanks to a new crew of volunteers—Jay Matson, Terry Monson, Derry Monson, Mark Rundquist, Tim Wyss, and Wendy Schoggins—the donated flooring has finally found its home. The refreshed surface now stretches from the gymnasium to the main entrance and down to the thrift store, giving the facility a brighter, cleaner, and more professional look. Finishing touches such as thresholds and wall base (and a whole lot of adhesive!) were added to complete the look.
As if all of this wasn't inspiring enough, Wisco Metal Solutions, LLC—the newest business in town at the old Oxbo site—built CLACC a brand-new handicap access ramp for the gym hallway! When the old floor was removed, the worn-out wooden ramp from the building’s high school days was gone too. Jay Matson took the initiative to draw up plans and reached out to Matt Norberg at Wisco Metal. Using their high-tech metal laser cutter and expert know-how, they built a custom metal ramp, brought it over to test the fit—it was perfect—and then took it back to paint it. The result? Can one get excited over a ramp? YES! It is stunning! Jay added tread tape to the main surface and caution tape along the edges. CLACC couldn’t be more grateful for this beautiful, functional ramp—it’s almost too pretty to walk on! [Read more about Wisco Metals here.]
Phase Two of the flooring project is on deck: installing the same donated flooring in the thrift store. While our installation crew can handle it, CLACC is inviting extra volunteers to join in. Trust us—volunteering here is a massive rush of feel-good energy, and the best part? We don’t charge a thing! <wink!> If you want an easy way to lift your spirits and make a real difference, this is your chance. Join us, and be part of something larger than life!
What started as a “what if” idea by a valued tenant and a 24-hour scramble has turned into a lasting improvement for the community center—proof that with teamwork, creativity, and a few strong backs, even the heaviest loads can be lifted.
If you haven’t stopped by to admire the new flooring, come on by! We have lots of activities going on all the time, and wonderful, newly updated spaces to rent for your next gathering. Check it all out on our calendar and short-term rental page, available on our website at clacc.org
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