CCRC Employees, Families Celebrate Project CCRC Employees, Families Celebrate Project

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The recent grand opening and ribbon-cutting on the newly-completed Clare County Road Commission facility was grand – but it was not the last candle on the cake. No, that honor was the Oct. 10 family day for employees and their families to tour the site and enjoy a picnic on a fantastic mid-fall day. The road commission has some 46 employees and it appeared that most of them took advantage of the opportunity to show off their new worksite, introduce coworkers to their families, and bask in the glow of a job well done.

Addressing the crowd, Dewayne Rogers, CCRC manager, described the new facility, focusing on the many hours his crews had invested/dedicated to completing the project and doing so well. He began by thanking all those who were in attendance, including friends and family, for what he called “a big day for us.”

Actually, his first official thank-you went to his wife who he said had put up with a lot, as the problems he dealt with during the day came home to her in the evening. He also thanked Dave Coker and Bubba-Q for the food provided for the event. Road Commissioners were thanked for their support throughout the process.

“It took their ‘yes’ vote to take this idea and make it happen into what we’re standing in front of today,” Rogers said.

FED Design/Builders were thanked, and acknowledged as good to work with on the project.

He also thanked the crew, noting the many hours his crews had invested/dedicated to completing the project and doing so well.

“This whole area was just a pile of junk two years ago, and last year, April 2 we broke ground,” he said. “And the process was we did all the dirt work here ourselves. It saved money, and these guys showed the talent and willingness, and put in a lotta, lotta time here: moving dirt, building, digging footings, compaction, just every little thing that went into this.”

Rogers said he believed everyone currently working had put in at least a day’s worth of work into the project, if not more. He also acknowledged that the road commission’s road to maintain/repair, bridges to build, signs to install.

“On top of all that, they got everything done,” he said.

CCRC Board Chair Karen Hulliberger spoke next, addressing her comments to the longtime service of Dick Haynak, who had served the Clare County Road Commission for 24 years. Having a personal family history with the CCRC, as well as having served on the CCRC Board alongside Haynak when he served as chairman, Hulliberger had the honor of presenting the street sign that was created to honor Haynak.

She described Haynak as one of the kindest, most level-headed man she had ever met.

“He always welcomed everyone with a smile,” Hulliberger said, adding that his true character showed through, as evidenced at a board meeting when she was being disrespected and he had stood to end the heated comments.

“So, when it came down to trying to find a name for our new road coming into the road commission, I couldn’t have thought of anybody else than Dick Haynak to name the road after,” she said. “I think he would be so honored, and I hope today he’s looking down on us and proud of our new building.”

She then thanked the Haynak family for attending and sharing their dad and grandpa for all those years with the Clare County Road Commission.

That road sign was held aloft so all could see it before it would later be installed at the corner of the road commission’s new access drive. That location is now the official intersection of Haynak Drive and Mannsiding Road.

After the “official work” was done, the crowd continued to enjoy one another’s company while also sharing stories about their friend, coworker and family member Dick Haynak. His high regard was everywhere, and his family in particular took great pride in his lengthy service to the county being honored. Haynak passed away just more than one year ago at the age of 89, but his memory definitely is being carried on in Clare County.