ABOVE: The new flooring at the East Chain Event Center. Submitted photo.

EAST CHAIN – On the eve of what is consistently one of the East Chain Activity Center’s biggest events, major improvements to the center have been completed.

The biggest addition was $19,000 worth of flooring, with a focus put on high-use and wheelchair-accessible areas. Secretary Cyndi Jensen said it is the most recent in a string of fixes done to the old school building.

“It takes a lot to maintain the building,” she said. “Over the years we have tried to make some updates to things like lighting, plumbing and water heaters, but finally it got to be where the flooring was crumbly. It was hard to clean and unsafe when kids would run down the hall.”

Building volunteers put in the work to chip the old flooring off and burn the glue underneath. Jensen said they also paid someone to come and check for asbestos as well. A big boost to their efforts came when the Martin County Area Foundation granted $10,000 to the flooring project.

“We were super relieved because that was over half the cost,” Jensen said. “We had enough donations from others to cover the cost. We appreciate MCAF because they go outside of Fairmont. It’s so nice they don’t bat an eye at helping rural areas of Martin County.”

Without the grant, Jensen said it would have taken longer to get the flooring in and the crumbling floor would have stayed. This would have provided an extra issue for those using the venue, who would pay extra to cover it.

“We would’ve had to do it in stages,” she said. “Never could have done the whole thing at once like we did this time. It saved us money because we got to do it all at once.”

The activity center has also recently been registered as a Red Cross emergency shelter after they were approached about doing so. Jensen said it was fantastic to be recognized as a benefit in that way.

Other improvements made include LED lighting updates, which Operation Round Up granted $850 toward, and a diaper changing station in the big gym ladies’ room donated by friends of Jensen’s at the United Hospital District (UHD) Surgery Department in memory of her dad Arlie Brucks.

This Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the East Chain Market, which Jensen said is one of the largest events they’ve ever hosted. This year they are expanding from 44 to 56 vendors, which Jensen said includes a local author, soybean lotions and a third clothing boutique.

“The vendors come from all over Minnesota and Iowa,” she said. “It encompasses everything from makeup, jewelry, baked goods, clothing boutiques, small furniture items and even dolls. Things suitable for holiday decorating or gift giving.”

Moving forward, Jensen said there are a few projects they’re still looking to tackle.

“One of them is resurfacing the big gym floor, which is supposed to be done every five years,” she said. “If you don’t it will eventually wear off the logos and markings. We hope to replace the ceiling in the large gym too. Some insulation needs to be replaced for functionality and appearance. We also want to create and sustain a webpage for booking events and a way to donate and update our community on certain needs.”

Jensen said there are many people to credit for making East Chain Activity Center what it is today, like dedicated volunteers Bob and Lori Calkins and Russell Jensen. She said her husband, Dale Jensen, has been a major reason for the entire project’s success.

“I might be the mouthpiece but he has been the person who put everything together with some neighbors and family members,” Cyndi Jensen said. “We all do the lion’s share but he’s the heart and soul and I don’t want to take all the glory for this. He’s the one who is late night mopping, scrubbing the toilets, shoveling, doing whatever it takes to make it great for the events.”

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/CalkinsJensen.