In the summer of 2021, the Todd County Extension Office began work on a long-anticipated building project.  A 6.34-acre lot had been purchased about 7 years ago, and this year earthwork finally began to transform the lot into a site suitable for an office building, a farmers’ market/classroom pavilion, and an outside livestock show ring.

Although all Todd County agents were/are involved in the project, the architect appointed me to serve as the office’s point person to work with the excavating contractor.  I was the link between the excavating contractor, our building finance committee, our staff, the special inspections contractor, and sometimes the architect.  The excavating work involved core drilling, a substantial amount of leveling, the construction of a finished “pad” for the office building, installing drainage and retention ponds, and the compaction and graveling of future parking areas.  After the project was underway our contractor recommended that we install water and sewer lines across the property while the earth-moving project was underway.  These features were not in the initial contract but were added so that the semi-finished parking areas would not have to be disturbed during the actual office building project.  An outdoor “arena” area for livestock shows and horse activities was also prepared and seeded.

The lot preparation project was completed in late 2021 with everything ready for the office building construction to begin this spring.  The total cost for this project was over $255,000, including surveying, soil testing and excavation.  When construction on the office building began this spring, the site was ready for building, without any additional work needed by the building contractor.