Watertown City Council approves design, consulting contracts for new ice arena (Audio)

July 19, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–More forward progress toward eventual construction of a new ice arena in Watertown.

At Monday night’s city council meeting, the council approved more than $300,000 worth of contracts to a design group and a consulting firm.

The 292 Design Group will be paid $15,500 for their services, and the TEGRA Group will be paid $293,000 for consulting fees.

Dick Strassburg is with TEGRA, which also consulted the city during the development of the Prairie Lakes Wellness Center…

Mayor Ried Holien says rising costs for construction materials will impact the bottom-line cost of a new arena…

Estimates put the cost in the $17 to $20 million range.

Still to be determined is whether the facility will be owned by the city, or the Watertown Development Company.

The location will be along Willow Creek Drive, north of Hobby Lobby.