Another construction project has been added to the hopper at Montana Expo Park.

Once the fair ends in August, work will start on replacing the grandstands and a complete remodel of the Paddock Club has been added to the plan.

On Thursday, Cascade County Commissioners approved a $85,000 contract with Nelson Architects for architectural/engineering services.

In June, the commission directed the Public Works Department to proceed with plans to remodel the Paddock Club in conjunction with the grandstand replacement, which had already been approved.

Commission postpones vote on changes to county subdivision regulations; budget amended for Expo Park grandstands

Combining the projects is more efficient and will provide some savings since site work such as grading, drainage, storm water and other items need to be completed at the adjacent sites.

Brian Clifton, county public works director, said the project had been included in the Expo Park budget for fiscal year 2019 though the commission has not yet formally adopted the budget.

County budget process underway, preliminary budget to be adopted in late June

The Paddock Club is a steel frame building and the floor is in poor condition, the roof is leaking and is otherwise in poor shape, he said.

The project includes gutting the building and essentially rebuilding.

The Paddock Club is used regularly, Clifton said, for conferences, the rodeo and horse racing, among others.

The total project is estimated at $755,000, on top of the $2.5 million for the grandstand replacement project that was approved earlier this year.

County Commission approves more than $2 million in contracts for replacement of grandstands at fairgrounds

Commissioners also approved a $67,567 with Nelson Architects for architectural/engineering services for the addition of a 26-foot by 26-foot classroom at the end of each wing at the Juvenile Detention Center. The project also includes replacing the facilities roof.

The facility was built in the mid-1990s, Clifton said, and the project was included in the capital improvement plan for the fiscal year 2019 budget.

The project total is an estimated $800,000, Clifton said.