Committee weighs moving 150‑year‑old post office to Minnehaha County fairgrounds amid facilities and construction updates

The Minnehaha County Building Committee met at 7:45 a.m. on April 6, 2021, and approved the March 23 meeting minutes. Committee members then discussed a proposal to relocate a historic post office to the county fairgrounds and received updates on facilities work and ongoing building projects.

Scott Wick, CEO of the Sioux Empire Fair Association, presented the fair association's plan to move a roughly 150‑year‑old post office building to the Minnehaha County Fairgrounds. According to Wick, the Century Fund would pay to repair and move the structure; the county would need to assume insurance responsibility if the move proceeds. Commissioners recommended that Mark Kriens, Minnehaha County Facilities Director, inspect the building before the committee makes a final determination.

Mark Kriens, Minnehaha County Facilities Director, gave a department overview. Kriens outlined building and grounds maintenance responsibilities, listed 2020 carryover projects, and reviewed the 2021 Building Fund project list and additional 2021 initiatives. He identified several capital items, including a planned chiller replacement under the county energy plan and updated savings estimates for an LED light replacement program. Kriens also warned that the Facilities budget faces significant increases in 2022.

Craig Dewey, Assistant Commission Administrative Officer, briefed the committee on specific building projects, including the Highway Facility, the Administration Building remodel, and Extension Building work. Dewey said the Administration building remodel design was reviewed and that the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Commission Office had suggested possible revisions; the Auditor’s Office offered no change suggestions.

Dewey and Dick Strassburg of Tegra reported that steel prices have risen, increasing project costs. Dewey said Henry Carlson invited seven steel suppliers to bid on the Highway Shop project but that four suppliers would not submit bids; Henry Carlson will provide a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Highway Shop project. Dewey also said Building 7 at the Highway Facility will require added electrical service and a propane tank, which will affect the project scope and cost.

The committee recorded its procedural actions on the record: a motion by Commissioner Barth, seconded by Commissioner Beninga, approved the March 23, 2021 meeting minutes (vote recorded as 4 ayes). The meeting concluded on a motion by Commissioner Barth, seconded by Commissioner Bender, to adjourn (4 ayes).

The committee’s immediate next steps include arranging the Facilities Director’s inspection of the post office structure to inform any decision about relocation and awaiting a Guaranteed Maximum Price from Henry Carlson to refine Highway Facility cost estimates.