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Douglas County approves $400,000 architecture contract to advance Heroes Hall veterans facility
Summary
The board approved a $400,000 purchase order to DLH Architecture to complete site and construction documents (bid pack A) for the Heroes Hall veterans facility adjacent to the fairgrounds. The board emphasized private fundraising to cover the project’s estimated $15 million cost and voted 3–0 to approve the contract.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners voted on Jan. 14 to award a $400,000 contract and purchase order to DLH Architecture (RFQ 047-22) to complete bid pack A—site development and construction documents—for the Heroes Hall veterans facility. The motion passed unanimously, recorded as 3–0.
Tim Hallmark, director of facilities, fleet and emergency support services, told commissioners the Heroes Hall Foundation has begun fundraising and that the full project is currently estimated at about $15,000,000, including site development and building construction. Hallmark said the $400,000 contract will produce the detailed documents necessary to identify the project’s actual costs and allow the foundation to target fundraising.
Mike McNary, chairman of the Heroes Hall Foundation, said the facility will bring the American Legion, VFW, the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation and county veterans services under one roof as a one‑stop support center for veterans and families. "We're bringing the American Legion, the VFW ... and we're able to offer all kinds of support," McNary said.
Commissioner George Teal disclosed a personal connection to the project earlier in the meeting and stated he was selected as vice chair of the Heroes Hall Foundation; he declined to ask questions and participated in the vote after recusing from a different consent item earlier in the meeting. Commissioners discussed the county’s intent to minimize future taxpayer contributions and the foundation’s plan to raise private funds to cover the majority of the estimated $15,000,000 total.
No public comment was offered on the item. After the motion and second, commissioners approved the contract and posed for a photograph with the project team.
The board did not appropriate the full project cost; the action authorized funding for design documents only. Commissioners and staff said the county will look to private donors and community partners for the remaining funding.
Status: Contract awarded to DLH Architecture for $400,000 to produce bid pack A for Heroes Hall; additional fundraising and future board decisions will determine construction funding and any further county contributions.
