Benson Armory passes key hurdle for renovation

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
With the environmental review of the Benson Armory complete and approved, the City of Benson is moving on toward the next steps for renovation of the building.
So far, the city has received 19 responses to its request for proposals for the armory project, Benson Economic Development Coordinator Hillary Tweed told the Economic Development Authority Monday.
January 4 is the last day accepting the requests. After that, the city will decide which contractor to go with for the project.
This past spring, the council was considering bids for the demolition of the armory. But in April, the council rejected the bids it had received and instead established a blue ribbon committee to explore potential future uses for the building. The committee was given three months to submit its report.
Benson’s National Guard Armory was constructed in 1927 and turned over to the City of Benson in 1993. For the most part, it has maintained the building updating its exterior and roof as needed. Its gymnasium provides a 7,000-square-foot area that would not be easy to replace, the council was told by supporters of the building.
However, faced with more than $1 million in costs for a major renovation of the aged building, the council had decided to tear it down. It was through the efforts of the proponents for renovating the building that it was saved.
This past August, the city was awarded a $678,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for renovations for the armory. Getting the grant was key to it not again facing demolition.
The funds from the state were received under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Some of those funds had been set aside for a special allocation to address community needs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Benson’s grant application showed how the armory could be used to respond for emergency management needs, including use as a storm shelter for people stranded during a blizzard or needing shelter following a tornado; for food distribution; or as an emergency management headquarters.
In the past it has been used for public health events, including vaccinations and blood drives. Elections and employee training have taken place in the armory.
The blue-ribbon committee presented the Benson City Council a $1.278 budget for renovating the armory as part of its final report on the building. The budget equals the $678,000 awarded from the DEED grant plus a city match of $600,000.
Prior to formation of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), the city had put $125,000 into an Amory maintenance fund and had agreed to put in up to $200,000 into its renovation.
In May, the council voted 4 to 1 vote to match the state grant funds with $600,000 of its own if awarded with Council Members Jack Evenson, Lucas Olson, and Mark Schreck voting for it. Jon Buyck voted no.
Members of the blue ribbon committee were Council Members Jack Evenson and Lucas Olson along with Glen Pederson, Jon Dokken, Kerry Wilcox, Dianne Doscher and Anne Johnson.
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