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Wednesday, August 25, 1999

L.H.B. Engineering and Architectural Services, Inc. of Minneapolis could receive as much as $250,000 for designing the new multipurpose building at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin.

The firm was the unanimous choice of the county board’s building committee to design the proposed facility, which would have two sheets of ice as well as other facilities for events.

The county board accepted the recommendation of the building committee and agreed to hire the Minneapolis firm for six percent of the total project costs estimated at between $4.2 and $4.4 million.

"We interviewed four firms, who specialize in the design of multi-purpose buildings," said Dave Hillier, 3rd District county commissioner and chair of the board’s building committee. "Then, we interviewed two of the firms again. Our recommendation is to hire L.H.B Engineering and Architectural Services, Inc. of Minneapolis."

"We were quite impressed with their sensitivity to ownership issues for a facility such as this," Hillier said.

Also helping convince the building committee was L.H.B.’s decision to reduce its fee from between 6.5 and 6.7 percent of the total project costs to a flat 6 percent.

"Will this allow us to come within our budget on the project?" Ray Tucker, 2nd District county commissioner, asked. "Yes," responded Hillier, "They feel they can do the project within the budget we’ve indicated."

Only a week ago, the Austin City Council agreed to take a request for $350,000 to the Hormel Foundation for additional funds for the multipurpose building.

The county is pouring $1.8 million into the project, state Mighty Ducks grants will provide another $500,000 and the Hormel Foods Corporation has pledged $600,000.

In addition, Hormel Foods will match the Austin Youth Hockey Association up to $250,000, which would provide another $500,000.

Austin Public Schools, whose varsity boys and girls hockey programs are expected to be among the biggest users of the ice rinks in the new facility, is not a financial partner in the project.

The district is preparing to embark on its own fund-raising project for a new Wescott Athletic Field complex.

The city of Austin’s commitment remains at the $100,000 level although it could become greater if the project costs increase upon certain levels.

Talk of moving quickly to have L.H.B. prepare bid specifications within three weeks and pouring the cement for the foundation before winter in order to allow the shell of the building to be up before the 2000 Mower County Fair prompted Tucker to issue a warning.