Williams County commissioners authorized up to $10,000 Sept. 2 for a short schematic and site planning study to determine whether the county-owned fairgrounds can accommodate arena facilities and associated parking.
Helen (county administration) told commissioners she has been working with Icon Architects, based in Watford City, and asked for approval to finalize a contract for “$10,000 or less” for schematic and design work focused on the fairgrounds option. Helen said the county and the Park District have been planning ice and arena facilities for Williston Square but wanted additional work to assess whether an indoor/outdoor arena could fit on fairgrounds property once the county owns it.
Helen said any larger arena project would be procured through an RFP process to select the architect, and that the Icon work would be a limited study to provide dimensions, elevations and parking analysis. “I would like permission once the lawyers are okay with it or up to $10,000 permission for us to execute the contract and have the chairman sign,” she said.
A commissioner moved and the board approved the contract authorization by roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded affirmative votes and the chair said the motion carried.
The county said the work is expected to take six months or less and that staff will return to the board with the findings and next steps. Helen and other commissioners discussed that prior planning had favored Williston Square for ice facilities and that the fairgrounds study was meant to evaluate an alternative site for arena-related building and parking needs.