Consultants to help with EGF Civic Center plans

East Grand Forks officials may enlist the services of a pair of consultants to help plan for future improvements to the city’s aging ice arenas.

Council members last night approved the drafting of an R-F-P for a construction managing firm and a fundraising specialist to help identify dollars for the pending project.

The city has floated the idea of a sales tax to help finance the bulk of the work.   Parks Director Reid Huttunen says fundraising will also be a critical part of the plan.

The price of the ice arena projects along could top eleven-million dollars.   Although the city was planning to lobby the legislature for taxing approval this year – Mayor Steve Gander says that conversation will likely be pushed into 2022.   “It feels like a courtesy to let everyone get back on solid ground before we have that next conversation.”

In other council action members gave preliminary approval to a new three year deal with the Minnesota D-N-R to operate the Red River State Recreational Area.  A total of 6,331 campsites were reserved during the shortened 2020 season.

Summary of previous year campsites reserved Year Total Campsites – 2020: 6,331 (late open; limited sites available due to COVID) –

2019: 10,263 (late open/early season closure due to flooding) –

2018: 11,812 – 2017: 10,944 – 2016: 10,800 – 2015: 10,434 – 2014: 11,564