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FARGODOME Authority

Boards, Commissions & Committees

FARGODOME Authority - July 25, 2017

A regular meeting of the Fargo Dome Authority was held on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. in the FARGODOME Conference Room with President David Suppes presiding.

Members present: President David Suppes, Blake Nelson, Troy Goergen, Michael Ellingson, Dan Armbrust, Darrell Vanyo and Nancy Jordheim (via phone).

Members absent: None

Others present: Susan Thompson, Director of Finance – FARGODOME; Bernie Larson, Assistant General Manager – FARGODOME; Amanda Muellenbach, Administrative and Auxiliary Services Manager - FARGODOME and Rob Sobolik, General Manager – FARGODOME.

Media present: None

President David Suppes called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

Rob requested to add a Discussion on Insurance, Discussion on a Private Easement and a Discussion on Suite Remodels to the agenda under Additional Items.

Troy Goergen made a motion, seconded by Darrell Vanyo, to approve the agenda of the July 25, 2017 Fargo Dome Authority meeting as amended. Motion carried.

Dan Armbrust made a motion, seconded by Blake Nelson, to approve the minutes from the June 27, 2017 Fargo Dome Authority meeting. Motion carried.

Rob Sobolik presented the General Manager’s report as follows:

  • Year-to-Date Net Income through June 2017 is stated at $454,413 which is a positive variance (to budget) of $104,075.
  • Upon review, Blake Nelson made a motion, seconded by Dan Armbrust, to approve the June 2017 financial statements as presented.
    On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Suppes and Vanyo voted aye.
    The motion was declared carried.
  • Past Events: USA Wrestling on July 15-22, 2017.
  • Upcoming Events: Bruno Mars on August 4, 2017. NDSU Fan Day on August 16, 2017. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on August 24, 2017.
  • Comments on Past Events: Nothing to report.

Troy Goergen and Blake Nelson presented the Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committee report. The Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committees met on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Items discussed included:

  • 2018 Capital Budget and Project Updates: Rob Sobolik presented the 2018 Capital Budget. Please see attachment. The Building Committee accepted a motion to approve the 2018 Capital Budget as presented. The Finance Committee accepted a motion to approve the 2018 Capital Budget as presented.
  • 2017 Capital Budget and Prior Year’s Carryover: Rob reviewed the 2017 Capital Budget including prior year’s carryover. Please see attachments. Rob requested the following motions: Re-allocate the remaining balances of FD1301 ($5,000), FD 1514 ($6,500), FD1505 ($8,750), FD1604 ($170,000), FD1603 ($30,000) and FD1714 ($25,000) to create FD1715 Cooling System Chemical Treatment Plan for $20,000, FD1716 Water Fountain Replacement for $40,000, FD1718 Arena Night Light Replacement for $12,000, FD1719 Computers/Network for $22,500, FD1720 Compact Wheel Loader for $90,750, FD1721 Skid Steer for $50,000 and FD1722 Stage Decking for $10,000.
    The Building Committee accepted a motion to approve the above reallocation requests.
    The Finance Committee accepted a motion to approve the above reallocation requests.
  • Capital Project Bid Approvals:
    FARGODOME Exterior Sign LED Retrofit: Rob would like to use the remaining funds from the video board project to replace the neon lighting on the main FARGODOME sign on the east side of the building with LED lights. FARGODOME sent out an RFP as per the City’s request for a competitive bid process and received two responses. Indigo Signs bid $41,650 and Scenic Signs bid $27,895.
    The Building Committee accepted a motion to approve the bid from Scenic Signs for $27,895.
    The Finance Committee accepted a motion to approve the bid from Scenic Signs for $27,895.
    Food & Beverage Cart Purchase Approval: Rob stated that he would like to use the remaining balance in FD1608 combined with FD1709 to purchase new condiment carts for Food & Beverage. FARGODOME sent out an RFP as per the City’s request for a competitive bid process and received 3 responses. Iowa Rotocast bid $35,347, Gallery Carts bid $34,543 and Webstaurant bid $70,382. Rob noted that the bid received from Gallery Carts was for smaller sized carts that what the specifications called for.
    The Building Committee accepted a motion to approve the bid from Iowa Rotocast for $35,347.
    The Finance Committee accepted a motion to approve the bid from Iowa Rotocast for $35,347.
  • 2018 Operating Budget: Susan Thompson presented the 2018 Operating Budget.
    The Finance Committee accepted a motion to approve the 2018 Operating Budget as presented.
  • June 2017 Financial Statements: The June 2017 Financial Statements were approved by the Finance Committee at the meeting on July 19, 2017.
    Troy Goergen made a motion to approve the Building and Finance Committee report as presented.
    On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Suppes and Vanyo voted aye.
    The motion was declared carried.
    Mike Ellingson made a motion, seconded by Blake Nelson, to approve the 2018 Capital Budget as presented.
    On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Suppes and Vanyo voted aye.
    The motion was declared carried.
    Darrell Vanyo made a motion, seconded by Troy Goergen, to approve the 2018 Operating Budget as presented.
    On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Suppes and Vanyo voted aye.
    The motion was declared carried.

Additional Items:

  • Private Easement Discussion: Rob stated that Verizon Wireless is working on a project, through 701 Communications, to tie the city’s network together with fiber. The fiber would run from the south side of 19th Ave N across FARGODOME property, specifically under the FARGODOME parking lots. Rob is working with 701 Communications regarding possible payment to the FARGODOME for allowing Verizon to run the fiber through FARGODOME property. As more information becomes available, Rob will updated the Authority on this item at upcoming meetings.
  • Discussion on Suite Remodel Project: Rob stated that remodeling the suites, including new carpet, countertops, cabinets, wall tiles, etc., is in the 2017 Capital Budget. One of the current suiteholders, Solid Comfort, has requested to remodel their suite, at their own cost, similar to NDSU’s suite. Solid Comfort would be responsible for getting their own contractor, with the approval of the Authority, for this project. The Authority would set the guidelines for the remodel and approve any plans before construction would begin. Solid Comfort has requested to use the money that would have been allocated to the already scheduled upgrades for their suite towards the cost of the remodel. The Authority discussed the likely possibility that the money for the already scheduled upgrades would need to be given through a discount in lease payments in the suiteholder contract. The general consensus of the Authority was that this is a reasonable request. Rob will continue discussions with Solid Comfort and bring any new information back to the Authority as he receives it.
  • Insurance Discussion: Susan provided an overview on FARGODOME’s current insurance. Liability insurance is through K&K Insurance through Insure Forward and property insurance is through FM Global. Both the liability and property insurance are up for renewal in November. The last formal bid for insurance was in 2006. Susan noted that upon discussion with the City and other insurance industry insiders that it would be beneficial for the FARGODOME to go through a formal bid process for renewals, specifically, to send out an RFQ to find a local agent/provider who would go out and get the liability and property coverages for the FARGODOME. If the FARGODOME were to go through the RFQ process, they would most likely not be able to complete the process before the November deadline. Rob and Susan suggested a couple options to ensure staff would have adequate time to complete this process, renew with existing insurance providers for another year or ask for a two month extension from the current providers. The committee had a general discussion. Nancy Jordheim made a motion, seconded by Troy Goergen, to direct Rob and Susan to request a 14 month renewal with the current providers at a flat rate. On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Suppes and Vanyo voted aye.
    The motion was declared carried.

The next Fargo Dome Authority meeting will be on August 29, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.