by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A project consultant has been hired by the City of Sartell to help set the first stage for construction of a community center in the city.
At a recent city-council meeting, members unanimously agreed to a contract with Lyle Mathiasen of St. Cloud for a cost not to exceed $10,000. Mathiasen has had years of experience with recreational facilities in St. Cloud, including its conventions center and as facilities director of the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex.
The hiring of Mathiasen is one of the first steps of many which have been drafted in a community-center planning process during the next 18 months to two years.
One of Mathiasen’s tasks will be to put together precise cost estimates of the construction, operation and maintenance of a center.
The center would be paid for with revenue from the city’s half-cent sales tax, including the planning phase, architectural costs, site preparation and construction.
Mathiasen, according to the service contract with Sartell, will provide cost estimates, oversee design and operations management decisions and, for Phase 3, coordinate design development and bidding for the project.
He will work with groups and facilitate networking through the entire planning process, including attending city-council meetings when his input is needed or to present to the council up-to-date information.
A Sartell community center, which has long been a city-wide goal, is expected to be constructed beginning in about 18 months to two years.