McCausland, Iowa: Town plans fundraisers to help save post office

By Kurt Allemeier | Thursday, March 27, 2008

McCAUSLAND,  Iowa — Confidence is growing that this Wapsipinicon River town will save its post office with hog roasts, bake sales and soup suppers.

Looking at raising $55,000 to outfit a building in the city’s downtown, supporters have raised about $5,000 and have pledges of $11,000. Proceeds from a hog roast this weekend should add to the effort as preparations begin to finish the building’s interior.

The hog roast is from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the McCausland Civic Center.

“I can say after this weekend, if we get $4,000-$5,000, we’ll be close to halfway,” said Lloyd Claussen, a City Council member who is leading the fundraising. Supporters have until end of July to meet U.S. Postal Service requirements for the building and more fundraisers are planned for April and May.

The council voted at a special meeting to purchase part of the building on Salina Street where the post office will be located.

“We hashed it out, asking ‘what if this, and what if that’ and then agreed to purchase the front half of the building,” Claussen said.

A bond issue was considered to purchase the entire building, but the effort would have taken too much time in what is a short timeline to get the building purchased and fitted to postal specifications. Later, the city will likely buy the rest of the building to use for storage. Total purchase price of the building is $55,000.

The next step is to order lumber and get a building permit so work can start on the building’s interior. Essentially, the building has to be finished out with wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling. Most of the work is expected to be done by volunteer labor.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.