Cascade County Commissioners approved a $147,200 change order for the Montana Expo Park roof project during their Nov. 12 meeting.

That brings total to $2,395,522, but still within the ARPA funds budgeted for the project, according to Les Payne, county public works director.

The county contracted with AT-Klemens in January 2024 for installation of multiple roofs at Expo Park.

County approves contract for Expo Park roof replacement project [2024]

County public works staff recently met with the contracted engineer, AT-Klemens and TC Glass, determining that substantial water damage exists that’s been caused by poor drainage, leaking windows and improper flashing.

The damage is on the north lobby wall of the barreled roof of the Pacific Steel and Recycling Arena, according to county public works.

For the roofing contractor to warranty the new roofing membrane in that particular area, those issues need to be addressed by demolishing and replacing the wall, removing those windows and frames, then installing a nailer to support new windows and window frames to install vertical termination flashing. That will allow for a 25-year non-leak warranty, Payne told commissioners.

Commissioner Joe Briggs said that they need to get it fixed while the roof is open and that it’s often the case with roof projects, that issues are unknown until it’s opened up.

He said he was thankful they have remaining ARPA funds for the project.

Commissioners approved the initial $2,218,000 contract with A.T. Klemens for the project to replace about 96,000-square-feet of roof on the Pacific Steel and Recycling Four Seasons Arena and Exhibition Hall.

The county solicited bids in August and September 2023 and received five bids ranging from $1.97 million to $2.7 million.

One bid was incomplete and was not considered.

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The county used TD&H Engineering to assist with the project and they reviewed and recommended the A.T. Klemens bid, which was the lowest bid meeting the requirements, according to county public works.

In December 2023, commissioners held a special meeting to allocate funds for several capital projects.

The Expo Park roof project was among them and commissioner voted to use $1.957 million of ARPA funds and $691,963.24 in one-time federal Local and Tribal Consistency funds, which were also part of COVID relief legislation, toward the estimated $3 million project at Montana Expo Park.

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During the December meeting, Susan Shannon, Expo Park manager, said that 60 percent of their calendar is full in those facilities for the year.

She told commissioners that 80 percent of Expo Park’s interim revenue comes from those facilities, and during the state fair, 30 percent of the total revenue comes from events in those venues.

Payne, county public works director, said that the roof project had been on their radar for awhile and they’d been making repairs regularly.

Payne said in December that the project was discussed several years ago and he was told it would be funded, so his department bid the project with an estimated $2 million budget.

County seeking bids for Expo Park roof replacement [2022]

The first round only garnered two bids, which were over budget.

The county put the project off for awhile and rebid it last year in 2023, receiving six bids, but the costs had increased.

Payne said that’s why he was asking to budget $3 million for the project.

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He said that then there’s issues with water from the roof getting onto the basketball floor in that venue, the whole state hears about it and the county could risk losing major tournament if the issues isn’t addressed.