The Cottage Grove City council approved hiring of Kraus Anderson as construction manager for the proposed community center project at its meeting last Wednesday night.

The Community Center will go to a referendum vote to residents in November.

Kraus-Anderson will be paid 1.95 percent of the bid construction value.

“As staff prepares for the community center referendum, it has become apparent that hiring now for construction management services would provide value to the city,” wrote Parks and Recreation Director Zac Dockter in a memo to the City Council. “Doing so would give the city access to reconstruction services to assure the information provided to the community for a referendum is the most accurate and easily decipherable to council, staff, consultant and the voters.”

Dockter cited help with the following in preparing for the community center vote.

•Developing realist construction project schedules.

•Site design.

•Building design.

•Assistance with construction costs .

•Life cycle costs analysis.

•Value engineering.

•Resource for construction-specific questions.

Kraus-Anderson has worked extensively in Cottage Grove and has built the Cottage Grove Ice Arena expansion and locker room expansion, the River Oaks kitchen expansion, Ottman Middle School and the Washington County South Service Center.

More importantly, perhaps, Kraus Anderson has built numerous community and aquatic center projects, including the Woodbury YMCA, the Central Square Community Center in South Saint Paul and the Rochester Recreation Center.

“Kraus Anderson submitted a comprehensive proposal to the city for construction management services,” wrote Dockter. “In their proposal, they specifically highlight their exceptional project team, examples of trusted partnerships and history of accurate and resourceful construction services. Through past experience, city staff concurs with those promises and as such are recommending the hiring of Kraus Anderson for construction services on the very important and sensitive community center project.”

The total costs of contract “would not be finalized until City Council approves bids post-referendum,” said Dockter. “It is important to note that no fees will be incurred prior to the referendum or project approval by the city. The reconstruction services are provided by Kraus-Anderson in good faith with hopes of the project being funded. If the project does not occur, there are no fees charged to the city. Should the project proceed, construction manager fees were built into the community center budget submitted to and approved by City Council.”