Rice County Public Safety Center Under Budget, Ahead of Schedule

Matthew Verdick, Rice County Parks and Facilities Director is like a proud papa when he talks about the Public Safety Center being constructed east of Mn. Highway 3 on the north end of Faribault.

Verdick says the approximately 50 million construction project is currently approximately 2.5 million dollars under budget and 3 months ahead of schedule.

Public Safety Center in Faribault, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

County Commissioners met as a Committee of the Whole at the Government Services Building in Faribault today hosting 29 Faribault High School and Tri-City United High School students during Youth Government Day.

Commissioner Jeff Docken encouraged students to ask any questions before the meeting got underway telling them they would receive an "A for the day."

The only student to ask a question was Cole Wolters a T-C-U senior who lives in Rice County.

The students sat in on a court hearing, learned about the current jail and the new public safety center under construction among other activities.

Verdick has been asked by Commissioners to bring the cost of remodeling in the Government Services Building down because the building was expanded just a couple years ago.

Rice County Government Servics Building Faribault, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

The last U.S. Presidential election brought about some changes in election laws to make sure voting results are accurate.

Changes are being proposed in the Rice County Elections area to make it more secure.

Rice County Property Tax and Elections Department . Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

There are also proposals to do some remodeling in the Administration and Parks and Facilities offices.

Rice County Administration Department. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

Work will also be completed in the courtroom in the Government Services Building.

Rice County Government Services Building Courtroom. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

Commissioner Galen Malecha told colleagues they could save $20,000 by not having a construction management company involved in the Public Safety building construction. Malecha says, "It's a waste of money."

Commissioner Steve Underdahl works in construction and agreed with Docken.

Commissioner Jim Purfeerst commented.

Purfeerst was talking about a couple of buildings on the Rice County Fairgrounds suffering from the harsh winter.

Underdahl says the need in elections in particular is not going away.

The matter will be brought before the County Board at next week's meeting. Commissioners can not vote on committee of the whole items. Those meetings are solely for discussion purposes.