Agency probes St. Paul for no-bid award on new stadium

The day after Gov. Mark Dayton announced there would be $25 million in state funding for a new downtown St. Paul minor league baseball stadium, the city announced the design-build contractor would be Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos. Taxpayer watchdogs complained there was no competitive bidding, but city officials say the law is on their side, Finance & Commerce reports. The Minnesota Management and Budget agency is investigating.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Oct 10, 2012

The day after Gov. Mark Dayton announced there would be $25 million in state funding for a new downtown St. Paul minor league baseball stadium, the city announced the design-build contractor would be Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos. Taxpayer watchdogs complained there was no competitive bidding, but city officials say the law is on their side, Finance & Commerce reports. The Minnesota Management and Budget agency is investigating.

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The shooting occurred on the 800 block of Elwood Avenue North at around 9:15 p.m.

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After city leaders huddled for several hours late Tuesday, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced Wednesday that the design-build contract for the $54 million Lowertown ballpark will be reopened for bids. The contract was originally awarded to Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies the day after the St. Paul Saints received $25 million in a state economic development grant.

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota is suing to stop construction of the new St. Paul Saints stadium in Lowertown. In its suit filed Friday in Ramsey County District Court, the taxpayer league claims the city of St. Paul violated competitive bidding laws when it awarded the design-build contract for the new stadium to Ryan Cos.

Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday announced that the St. Paul Saints would get $25 million for a $54 million stadium downtown to replace the aging Midway Stadium. The project was the biggest recipient of money from a pot of $47.5 million in state economic development grants.

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Mayor Chris Coleman proposed a St. Paul budget that reduces spending by $1 million. A 1.9 percent increase in the tax levy would help offset the loss of state funding. Coleman's budget would fill seven vacancies in the police department and would add a lawyer to the city attorney's office.

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