Construction of a grandstand at the fairgrounds has been approved by the Brown County Agricultural Society.

Members of the society decided to go ahead with the project if the cost could be trimmed to $240,000. Firms that bid on the project said cuts could be made.

THE BROWN COUNTY Board of Commissioners agreed this week to pay $80,000 from revenue sharing funds for the project. The county also has agreed to levy $20,000 a year for up to eight years for the grandstand.

The agricultural society has $26,000 of its own for the project.

“We’re a little disappointed it had to cost this much,” said William Huevelmann, secretary of the agricultural society. “But we are pleased we’re able to go ahead.

“You need a grandstand at the fairgrounds. And if it costs this much, it’s just what we have to do.”

CONSTRUCTION IS scheduled to begin on the project in a couple of weeks. John Heymann, president of Heymann Construction Co., said his firm could begin work on the project a couple weeks after the project won approval.

To bring down the cost of building the grandstand, one section will be eliminated. That will decrease capacity by 300 seats, leaving a capacity of 2,100 seats.

Other portions of the project also will be eliminated or cheaper materials will be used to bring down the cost.

Heymann’s bid for general construction of the grandstand totaled $224,200 for the work. Architect Richard Evjen of Richard Evjen Associates, Hudson, Wis., had estimated the grandstand project general contract at $194,864.

New Ulm Daily Journal

June 20, 1975