For Woodsman Magazine
WEBSTER, Wis. (Sept. 9, 2004) – Sometimes a whole lot of heart can fit into a small room. Such is the case with the crew at County Materials Corp.'s location off Highway 35.
For about four years now, County Materials has been working toward building a trusting and lasting relationship with its neighbors in Webster and Burnett County. Though it hasn't always been easy.
"I think people get scared off by the word 'corporation,'" said Amy Olson, Webster branch manager. "But even though we are part of a corporation, everything can be handled in this office. We're a one-stop shop. People can pay bills, purchase or pick up (orders), or schedule here."
The folks in the Webster office stand ready to offer the full range of County Materials' products. Everything from landscaping block to sand and aggregate can complement County Materials' other services, which range from digging basements to demolition. And it's all just a phone call away.
Far from being a faceless entity, County Materials has its roots in family. Merlin Sonnentag founded the company with little more than a truck, a manual concrete-block machine and an entrepreneurial spirit in 1946. The business has remained in the family into its third generation and has spread that spirit to 23 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.
County Materials hasn't forgotten the importance of personal service, instead relying on such individual attention to succeed in a highly competitive industry.
When a lethal tornado roarded through Siren in June 2001, County Materials was among the first in line to aid in the cleanup and help the town rebuild.
"We offered a discount on concrete products, excavating and ready-mix to anyone who was in the tornado path; mostly residential," Austin Denotter said. A driver for County Materials who lives in Hertel, Denotter knew all three people who died in the tradgedy as the storm ravaged both Siren and Hertel.
"We did quite a bit of cleanup on the road between Siren and Hertel," Denotter added. "People came out and helped, to say 'You're not in this alone.' "I don't think County Materials even hesitated in deciding to help clean up the roads. And it took about two weeks."
It was just an extension of County Material's commitment to the area, underscoring its involvement in such projects as Webster High School, Burnett Dairy's expansions, McNally Industries, North states Industries, the Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative and the St. Croix Waters Fishery.
A big-time effort, from a smalltown office.
For more information on County Materials' products and services, stop by the Webster office at 27692 Highway 35, contact a representative at (715) 866-4226.