Work on Mayo Civic Center project to begin this year

Work is expected to begin later this year on the long-planned expansion of the Mayo Civic Center.

Governor Dayton this morning signed the construction bill that contains authorization and $35 million in state funding for the project.  Assistant City Administrator Gary Neumann says the construction design was finalized in 2010 and there have been various building code changes since then that will have to be applied to the project.  He expects that work to take about three months.   The city also needs to finalize an agreement with the state.

Neumann says he is optimistic the project will be put out for bids by late summer or early fall, allowing for a construction start before the end of the year.  He anticipates a 2 year construction schedule.