No Construction Manager At Risk hired yet for Watertown Ice Arena project

October 5, 2021
Mike Tanner
WATERTOWN, S.D.–The Watertown City Council did not hire a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the proposed new ice arena at their meeting Monday night; a move that had previously been expected.

Interviews with CMAR’s were held last week, but City Manager Amanda Mack tells KWAT News they won’t hire one until contract negotiations are completed.

The CMAR will essentially do the work of a general contractor by bidding out sub-contract work, and they’ll do it under a “guaranteed pricing” format, which means they’ll have to make sure the arena gets built without going over budget.

The city will use sales tax revenue bonds to pay off the arena over 30 years. The cap on the bond amount is $20 million.

Also at Monday night’s meeting the council agreed to hire JLG Architects of Fargo to do pre-design work on a new Street Department facility.

And City Manager Mack announced the first 2022 budget hearing will be held October 13th at 4:30 p.m.