Bids for the proposed multipurpose building at the Mower County Fairgrounds in southwest Austin must come in within the $5.

Thursday, October 12, 2000

Bids for the proposed multipurpose building at the Mower County Fairgrounds in southwest Austin must come in within the $5.5 million budget.

If they don’t, that could mean the project is doomed.

All five members of the Mower County Board of Commissioners confirmed Tuesday that is their thinking at this time.

Only Richard P. Cummings, First District, offered any glimmer of hope that the county commissioners would rethink the situation if the bids do not come in within the established budget.

"If they don’t come in within the budget, possibly other sources could come forward to supplement what has already been budgeted for the project," Cummings said.

Already, there is ice skating at Riverside Arena as another season of ice skating and hockey begins.

The city of Austin plans to convert Riverside Arena, since 1973 the only local ice skating venue, into a recreation center. But that must wait until another ice skating arena opens.

The county board’s multipurpose building project includes two sheets of ice and also would be a place for livestock shows, such as the National Barrow Show, Mower County Fair events and other conventions, trade shows and expositions.

The county board’s share of the proposed building’s costs has climbed considerably since the project began two years ago. Today, it is at the $2.8 million mark and the county commissioners say it won’t go any higher.

"The success of the project is dependent upon the bids," David Hillier, Third District, said.

Hillier and Cummings comprise the county board’s building committee. Ironically, each commissioner was on the opposite side of a narrow 3-2 vote taken to formally approve the project. Hillier, Gary Nemitz, Fifth District, and Len Miller, Fourth District, voted "aye" and Ray Tucker, Second District, and Cummings voted "nay."

Mower County also has received $500,000 in Mighty Ducks grants from the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.

The city of Austin’s share of the project has risen to the $950,000 mark plus the promise to donate ice rink equipment.

Hormel Foods Corp. has pledged $1.1 million, including a $250,000 challenge to match the same amount if raised by the Austin Youth Hockey Association and Riverside Figure Skating Club.

To date, the association’s and club’s fund drive has reached $175,000. Also, Hormel Foundation has pledged $300,000 to the project.

The county commissioners are waiting to hear from LHB Architects and Engineers Inc. of Minneapolis. The firm was retained by the county board to assist in the planning and design of the facility.

According to the county board members, the final plans and design could be ready within the next two weeks. If they are approved by the county board, the specifications can be written and distributed to potential contractors by Oct. 26 and a bid opening held in November.

Then, the project could see preliminary site work begun in January 2001 and the building constructed in the spring and summer of next year.

It would not be ready for use until possibly the winter of 2001 for ice skating and hockey and full use thereafter in 2002.