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Armory fate may be decided Monday

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Benson’s National Guard Armory was built in 1927 and turned over to the city in 1993

By Reed Anfinson
Next  Monday, the Benson City Council will decide the fate of the former National Guard Armory. Will it be renovated as a community center and emergency shelter, or will it be torn down.
At this past Monday night’s meeting, the council met in special session to review the bids submitted for the Armory’s renovation with the low bid of  $1,539,098 for a complete project better than the council was expecting.
It had earlier been projected the project could cost as much as $2,335,578. The expected low bid was around $,1343,480.
If the Armory project is stripped of all but the basic improvements to the building, the cost would be lowered to $1,222,873 million.
However, the city won’t bear all that cost. In 2021, Benson received a $678,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the Armory’s renovation.
Past Benson councils set aside $600,000 for the project but $195,100 of those funds have already been spent on engineering costs. Benson’s grant application pointed out how the Armory could be used to respond for emergency management needs, including use as a storm shelter for people stranded during a blizzard or needing shelter following a tornado; for food distribution; or as an emergency management headquarters.
Constructed in 1927, Benson’s National Guard Armory was constructed and was turned over to the City of Benson in 1993. For the most part, it has maintained the building updating its exterior and roof as needed. Its gymnasium provides a 7,000-square-foot area that will not be easy to replace, if the building is demolished.
In the past it has been used for public health events, including vaccinations and blood drives. Elections and employee training have taken place in the Armory. It has been used for vendors to display their goods during the annual fall community craft show. For the city, it would also provide a space to accommodate a large crowd for a meeting.

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