Marching into the glorious future

From our friends in Kane County there is this:

Elfstrom Stadium expansion moving forward

The long anticipated expansion of Elfstrom Stadium moved closer to reality on Friday.

The Kane County Forest Preserve Commission’s executive committee on Friday recommended a $10.7 million bid with Skender Construction of Palos Hills.

Minor league team the Kane County Cougars plays at the stadium. The current stadium was built in 1991.

Skender submitted the low bid for the project, which would include a new upper deck with suites for group seating and administrative offices.

The high bid was $11.9 million. The full Forest Preserve Commission is set to vote on Skender’s bid at its Feb. 13 meeting.

“We’re happier than we were before,” forest preserve district finance director Bob Quinlan said of Skender’s bid. Previous bids were in the $11 million and $12 million range, he said.

In my world, $10,700,000 is close enough to still be in that $11,000,000 to $12,000,000 range. But, what's $300,000 between friends? But, in my world...oh, you really don't want to be in that place.

That above bit is from the Kane County Chronicle. The bit below is from the Chicago Daily Herald story. They have detail about the rent and a more positive outlook than the neutral "set to vote on Skender's bid at its Feb. 13 meeting."

The Cougars' rent also will increase incrementally every four years over the next 16 years, going from the current fee of about $1 million annually to more than $1.3 million by 2024.

Both sides said they hope to finish renovations in time for the start of the 2009 season. The project already has been delayed once.

"We've got an aggressive construction schedule," said Forest Preserve Commission President John Hoscheit.

The forest preserve commission is expected to approve the bid Feb. 13.