Stone Creek Homes looks to make Rooks County home
from the Stockton Sentinel, March 13, 2008

During the regular weekly meeting of the Rooks County Commission held on Tuesday morning, March 11 in the courthouse, the three commissioners, Bob Schamel, Gary LeRock and Pate Hageman, contacted Stone Creek Homes owner Dave Ferguson while members of the press, and Stockton and Plainville officials filled the room.

Commissioner Pat Hageman announced that since the official notice was given in January of the closing of Schult Homes in Plainville, Rooks County, with the assistance of the area towns, had been looking at alternative business opportunities for the area.  Hageman stated that the county was excited to visit with Dave Ferguson, who is interested in bringing his business to the area.

At this point in time the county commissioners and county economic development director Roger Hrabe are busy working with bonding agent, Gilmore and Bell, to facilitate the purchase of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) for this business endeavor.

While on the speaker phone, Ferguson stated that the workforce in the area was the main factor in getting his business, Stone Creek Homes, up and running as soon as possible.  Ferguson said he looks forward to being a valuable part of Rooks County, and then went on to explain the manufacturing process of his homes. 

Ferguson had looked at several different sites within the county for his business, and after narrowing it down to three possible sites, a site located by the former Clayton Manufacturing in Plainville was chosen.  A 60,000 square foot metal building will be located at 901 N. Industrial Park Road.  The site selection was made on the basis that most of the former workforce is centered in the heart of the area chosen with 56 former Schult Home employees living in Plainville, 19 employees from Stockton, and 61 employees from the surrounding area, mostly from Ellis County.

After a Cost Benefit Analysis is completed, a Bond Hearing will be held on April 1 to formally pass a resolution announcing the issuance of the bonds.  Ferguson said the construction of the new building could begin sometime in June and be completed by September.  

The announcement of this business venture was greeted with much enthusiasm by all of the constituents gathered, as all view it as a community effort.