County hears more about commercial building

By Bill Vander Weele
Sidney Herald
Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 7:07 PM MST

The Richland County commissioners and Richland County Fair Board discussed the design development of the proposed new commercial building during a meeting Monday.

Mike Stevenson, Stevenson Design, provided a detail-packed presentation to the parties. Total estimated cost of the building is $3.867 million. The cost includes a first-class catering kitchen which is estimated to cost $142,000.

The kitchen will feature a double stack convection oven, six-burner range and 36” griddle along with prep tables, dish station, a walk-in cooler and plenty of freezer space.

The building itself offers the possibility of three exhibit halls when separated with folding walls. Stevenson estimates that the entire building can hold 1,000 people and the middle exhibit hall could hold about 500 individuals. The commercial building is scheduled to have 80 10x12 stalls. The building would be ideal for such events as wedding receptions, Ag Days, smaller commercial shows and various types of banquets.

Geo-thermal water-to-air heat pumps will provide heating and cooling with five separate zones – one each for the exhibit spaces, a fourth for the support spaces and a fifth for the kitchen.

“The next step is you guys telling me to move on or make changes,” Stevenson said at the meeting. He stressed that he wanted a decision before construction designs are made.

Commissioners Mark Rehbein and Don Steppler appeared to indicate they felt the building was larger than anticipated, but felt the size might serve the county the best in the long run.

“We will look at it,” Rehbein said.

The architect’s timeframe has the design development approved on Monday and construction documents completed by Feb. 7, 2009. Bids will then be received by March 10, 2009. Construction is scheduled to start April 1, 2009. After construction stops in August for the fair, construction is expected to be completed Nov. 1, 2009.

Stevenson noted construction costs are lower right now. “They are going to want to start it now,” he said of contractors.

The project will be paid for strictly through oil severance funds.

editor@sidneyherald.com

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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Sidney Herald.

Mic wrote on Dec 16, 2008 4:36 PM:

" On December 9, the Sidney Herald did a follow-up story which said in part: "Because of concerns about future oil revenue, county commissioners didn’t give approval for the new commercial building at the Richland County Fairgrounds Monday, the date that architect Mike Stevenson asked for a decision. Instead, commissioners wanted first to review oil figure estimates once they are compiled by county officials." Sounds like they're being cautious. However, the Herald should do a follow-up on their article regarding raises the commissioners proposed for elected officials earlier this year. Never did hear how that came out. "

Fed up wrote on Dec 13, 2008 6:58 AM:

" I liked Sidney a whole lot better seven years ago when there was ZERO oil activity. Back then rent was 20% of my monthly income, now it's OVER 50%!! Back then I could afford to shop in Sidney. Not any more. The more I have to dish out in rent just means that I have less to spend in Sidney. If you compare prices the choice is more then obvious. Are people really that dense or are they doing this on purpose? I don't work in the oil field and I don't have an oil well in my wallet. I feel like some one took a large knife and stuck it right it in my back. However there is hope! With oil prices continually dropping, I sincerly and honestly hope that all oil activity comes to a complete halt! Maybe then Sidney along with my blood preasure and stress levels can get back to normal. In case you're wondering I will not work in the oil field! I am a single parent and my work schedule must be in sync with my childrens school hours. I am not one of those parents that let a sitter raise there kids!! "

Charley Buehner wrote on Dec 12, 2008 2:55 PM:

" ...a ~GOOD~ steward will make sure what he puts away will be beneficial to everyone he oversees. Putting away some of today's harvest so that a select few can benefit from it tomorrow sounds more like embezzlement to me.

Almost $4~MILLION~!? Seriously? And construction costs are "low"? Unless we're expecting to compete with the United Arab Emirates, I'd think that's a little excessive. $400K ~maybe~. This town can find a LOT more useful places to put 4 million dollars, like an apartment complex or two, tax breaks/incentives for businesses who have to pay their employees more to keep up with the workforce shortages, tax credits to individuals who are forced to pay higher prices on rent because nothing's available elsewhere, maybe pave the remaining gravel streets in Sidney, could put a streetlight or two up in a few places too I'd think. The list goes on and on, but to me, $~4M for a building that the public will get to use openly for one week out of the year, and will have to pay to use any other time, does ~NOT~ seem like the work of a good steward. "

Randy wrote on Dec 12, 2008 2:04 PM:

" "THEY ARE SPENDING OUR OIL REVENUE MONEYS LIKE A BUNCH OF TAVERN DRUNKS ON PAYDAY!" ~Rodeo

I could not agree more! Richland County is in a very rare position - they have funds to work with. Cities, counties, and states all over the country are flat broke - on the verge of bankruptcy - and looking to cut costs in every way that they can, just to survive. Without some true fiscal wisdom, planning and restraint, Richland County could join their ranks in the near future. The oil money will not last forever (remember the boom of the 80s?) and it is the responsibility of the County to be prepared for the future.

Instead of spending over $3 million on a building - and all of the associated maintenance costs - that will see limited use, and NEVER begin to pay for itself, the County should use that money as a "nest egg"....Let the money sit in the bank and earn interest. Spend the interest money if needed, but leave the principal alone. The principal could even be earmarked as a "Disaster" fund to repair infrastructure in the event of a calamity such as a tornado. "

wrote on Dec 12, 2008 8:15 AM:

" "THEY ARE SPENDING OUR OIL REVENUE MONEYS LIKE A BUNCH OF TAVERN DRUNKS ON PAYDAY! "
A good steward finds a way to put aside some of todays harvest for tomarrow!!! "

taxpayer wrote on Dec 11, 2008 6:07 AM:

" It seems that we have a good facility (Extended Care) already. They charge enough that they should not need to take money from the County. The Commissioners are doing a fine job of evaluating the county buildings and I think that they will wisely use our oil money. I would also like to commend our area schools for using oil money on needed and useful projects in their respective districts. "

rodeo wrote on Dec 10, 2008 4:40 PM:

" Before gathering "THE FACTS" our Leaders have already approved the construction of the newly constructed community building. They believed that the previous building "Health Department" had serious mold issues. Recently they have learned of the results of the professional assessment on these issues. The building had insignificant amounts of mold and that the employees were probably getting sick from nothing more then poor and or lack of ventilation. Next we will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars on the demolition and removal of one of our great landmarks. This building has asbestos in the floor tiles and boiler, no more then what was discovered in the old LaLonde. And how was the asbestos handled in that demolation?

THEY ARE SPENDING OUR OIL REVENUE MONEYS LIKE A BUNCH OF TAVERN DRUNKS ON PAYDAY!

One day our youth will look back on this ignorance and wish for "just one more oil boom, we promise not to allow it to be flushed down the toilet" "

Just Say No wrote on Dec 10, 2008 2:59 PM:

" With thousands of workers in Montana being layed off and the State of Montana reducing their surplus expectations for the next two years, I hope the Commissioners do not act on this until they see what the local economy is going to do next year. "

Extended care advocate wrote on Dec 9, 2008 8:38 PM:

" What difference does it make if it is not owned by the county. Seems as though alot of other entities have received donations from the county commissioners that are not county projects. Doesn't the county money belong to all people within the county? "

Guy wrote on Dec 9, 2008 5:44 PM:

" How often will this new building be used. How much to rent for wedding receptions or whatever. To me this looks like an incredible waste of money. Are there not other far more serious issues that $3.867 million could be used for? I can think of one or two. WOW!! There is no end to the amazement! "

TD wrote on Dec 5, 2008 5:52 PM:

" Michelle
What you said Join forces and make it work for all. "

Friend of the Fair wrote on Dec 4, 2008 4:53 PM:

" While it's a nice thought, SHC Extended Care is not owned by the County. "

Extended health care advocate wrote on Dec 4, 2008 3:27 PM:

" Since the extended care is in need of updates and could certainly use more rooms as there is a lond waiting list, how about a more modest Commercial building and donating the extra money to the extended health care building project. This seems more worthwhile than a fancy building at the fairgrounds. "

Michelle wrote on Dec 3, 2008 8:58 PM:

" Is it just me, or should the Event Center Committee get together with the Commissioners and combine the Commercial Building and the Event Center? Why not have one really nice big multi-use facility instead of two moderate buildings? There's plenty of parking at the Fairgrounds. Upkeep, insurance and utilities would only be needed for one building. The pride of control could be set aside for the general good of the community. "

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