Bidding process complete; work underway

The Owatonna School Board recently approved another round of construction contracts, totaling about  $45.4 million, for work on the district’s new high school.
In this round of bid approvals, the board awarded contracts to two Owatonna firms. R&K Electric, Inc. received a $4.2 million contract to handle the project’s electrical work, and Olympic Fire Protection Corp. received the $695,000 contract for fire suppression.
Last month, JJD Companies of rural Blooming Prairie received a $6.95 million contract to handle the excavation and underground utility work. And Mohs Contracting, Inc. of Owatonna was awarded a $2.1 million contract for finishing carpentry and an exterior outbuilding.
Several other firms in Southern Minnesota were also awarded contracts.
After awarding the bids, Lori Weisenburger, vice-chair of the board, asked how many out-of-town contractors would be spending time in the community?
“We will have a lot of people who are working on the project who will be going out and spending money in our community,” said Bob Olson, the district’s director of facilities, infrastructure and security. “The ones who will be here for a long time – will be here during the week and go home for weekends.”
In addition to the boon to the local hotels, Olson said he expected the economic impact of the construction project to hit the food industry as well. Kwik Trip and the fast-food restaurants will be busy, he said.
Superintendent Jeff Elstad also said that some of the out-of-town contractors will be looking for workers, too.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new high school will be held on May 6.