The final signs were erected Tuesday in the government center, signaling the Mower County courthouse and law enforcement center renovation project is complete.

Wednesday, February 09, 2000

The final signs were erected Tuesday in the government center, signaling the Mower County courthouse and law enforcement center renovation project is complete.

That’s two years, at least, after it was declared over and an open house held for taxpayers.

The well-chronicled story of the renovation project includes nearly $2 million in cost overruns. Change orders and other minutiae of the project were blamed for the extended project and the steadily increasing costs that rose above the budget for the project.

That is what is haunting still another ambitious capital improvement project being considered by the Mower County Board of Commissioned: the multipurpose building at the fairgrounds.

"We’re at a crossroads here. There’s no doubt about that," said Dave Hillier, Third District Mower County commissioner.

Hillier, chairman of the county board’s building and grounds committee, and Richard P. Cummings, First District commissioner, delivered the apparently "bad" news to the county board Tuesday.

Cost estimates for the multipurpose building are now $1.2 million over their original projections.

Hillier and Cummings, as well as County Coordinator Craig Oscarson, revealed the project budget shortfall to city of Austin officials and staff Monday.

City officials remain mum on the county’s request that they consider an expanded financial role in the project. The city currently has pledged up to $400,000 for the project and city finance director Tom Dankert is "crunching numbers" for city officials to consider.

All other stockholders in the project – Hormel Foods Corp., the Hormel Foundation, the Austin Youth Hockey Association and Riverside Figure Skating Club – appear to be maxed out as to what they can contribute to the project.

Austin Independent School District No. 492 never was a stakeholder like the others; only an anticipated revenue source because of its coed varsity hockey programs.

Hillier and Cummings went over the new figures and LHB Engineers and Architects’ conceptual plans for the buildings Tuesday.

The original $4.3-million figure grew dramatically a month ago when LHB submitted its square-footage construction estimates to Hillier, Cummings and Oscarson.

While two plans for a multipurpose building come with estimated pricetags of $6.2 million and $7.8 million, the preferred plan or the one that most closely matches the plan proposed to the public for the last two years, is pegged at $5.5 million.

That plans calls for two 85-by-200 foot ice rinks and not the Olympic-size rinks once considered.

Also there would be eight instead of 11 locker rooms, a reduced lobbyarea, a combined storage and Mower County Fair Board office area and other adjustments. "Now, we’re sizing back a little," Hillier told the commissioners Tuesday.

Hillier said the footprint or basic size of the building still is controlled by the apparent need for two ice rinks. In addition, there is the need for adequate seating – 1,200 or more – to facilitate other indoor events.

However, the preliminary plans call for one of the ice rinks to be of the competition variety with seating and also able to hold concerts and other events. The other ice rink would be for practice purposes only without seating and intended as a walkthrough exhibition area for other activities.

It is well-known that the city of Austin relishes the county constructing such a facility. Each year, the Riverside Arena single-sheet ice facility loses more than $113,000.

The growth of both hockey and figure skating combined with the Austin Independent School District’s coed hockey programs makes the current single sheet of ice in Riverside Arena inadequate.

Hillier didn’t mince any words with the county commissioners Tuesday.

"There are really three options," he said. "We can request the $1 million from the city of Austin or our current budget might be adequate to build a metal shed-style building or we can build no building at all."

Hillier also said the actual costs to construct the desired building could depend upon variables such as "how busy the construction industry is when we want it built and how hungry they are for work."

He also said that when the financing for any kind of building is obtained, it still would take two months to write the specifications and take bids, plus another nine months at least under favorable weather conditions to construct the building.

Because, the county also has learned the recommended site on the fairgrounds will require large amounts of fill dirt to avoid drainage problems, a building of any size and comfort would take at least a year to construct.

Ray Tucker, representing the county’s Second District and chair of the board, was one of two commissioners to oppose the project. Cummings was the other. Tucker said: "Do we know if it could be constructed and come in under $5.5 million?"

Hillier said, "That’s why we’re approaching the Austin City Council for more help."

Oscarson urged the commissioners to wait for more detailed costs, now being accumulated by LHB, before making any decision of its own.

Cummings agreed, saying the city of Austin "also must be interested in learning final figures on what it will cost."

Tucker agreed that final and exact figures were needed to avoid cost overruns. "I can see that is important, because otherwise we’re going to have to go back to ask for even more than we’re asking now," he said.

Hillier said the plans being considered accomplish the city’s request for an aesthetically appealing building on the fairgrounds in the quiet southwest Austin residential neighborhood.

He also said the building would be constructed fully equipped to accomplish the intended purpose of providing two ice rinks and a building that could house other events at the fairgrounds and be marketed to attract even more events.

Cummings, the other "nay" vote when it was approved 3-2 to proceed with the project, said, "I’m disappointed the costs have gone up." He also said any additional dollars for the project would have to come "from other sources than the county."

Gary Nemitz, Fifth District commissioner, praised Hillier’s leadership in undertaking the project for the county board and Len Milker, Fourth District, and the other commissioners agreed.

But, Tucker obviously wants the board to exercise caution before proceeding further. This was indicated when he said, "It takes a smart man to get out of a bad deal."