Dickinson State University, City of Dickinson, Stark County, Dickinson Public Schools, and Dickinson Parks & Recreation are partnering with the Dickinson State University Foundation, Blue Hawk Booster Club, Dickinson Catholic Schools, Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce, and Dickinson Convention & Visitors Bureau on the Badlands Activities Center (BAC), a multiuse facility for football games, track and field events, and other community and regional activities.

1. Why do we need new facilities for Whitney Stadium now?
2. What will the BAC include and how much will it cost? 
3. What’s in the BAC for me?
4. What new athletic events could take place in the BAC?
5. What types of events – other than football and track and field – would be expected to take place at the BAC?
6. Will non-athletic events at the BAC compete with private businesses in Dickinson that offer facilities for such events?
7. Why is the BAC so important, given other city and county projects?
8. The West River Community Center cost $12 to $13 million; why does the BAC have to be so expensive.
9. How will you come up with $15 million for the BAC?
10. Will the State of North Dakota help fund these construction costs?
11. How much is this going to cost me as a taxpayer?
12. How will the Dickinson and surrounding area benefit economically from the BAC?
13. Who is leading the efforts to secure funding for the BAC?
14. What is the Badlands Activities Center’s “Joint Powers Agreement”?
15. What is the “Private Entities Agreement”?
16. How much is it going to cost to secure the $15 million to construct and equip the BAC?
17. What is the “receipting fee” referenced in the Joint Powers Agreement and the Private Entities Agreement?
    
18. Who will have title to the BAC?
19. Who will be responsible for operating the BAC, including long-term maintenance?
20. What is the Facility Development Board, and what is its role in the Badlands Activities Center.
21. How will the BAC operating costs and long-term maintenance costs be funded?
22. How will user fees be set for groups that want to use the BAC?
23. Who will be responsible for providing concessions and food service at the BAC?
24. How long before you start the construction?
25. How will the BAC and its multi-purpose areas impact the University?

1. Why do we need new facilities for Whitney Stadium now?
   • Whitney Stadium has very serious structural problems and safety issues that must be addressed immediately.  The concrete seating continues to crack and shift.  Restrooms are undersized and not handicapped accessible.  Concessions building roof is unsound and leaks.  Heating, cooling, and plumbing systems are 36 years old.  There is no elevator access or handicapped seating.
   • The football field suffers from serious drainage problems.
   • Huffman Track is cracked with age.  Even with numerous expensive repairs, repeated resurfacing and annual preventive maintenance, the track continues to deteriorate because of drainage problems on the football field.
   • There are no locker rooms or restrooms on-site for home or visiting teams.
   • Parking is inadequate for the numbers of event participants, and the parking surface suffers from potholes.
   • Lighting is far below standards for modern-day athletic and other events.
   • Extremely cramped press boxes fall far short of incorporating today’s communications technologies.
2. What will the BAC include and how much will it cost? 
   • The BAC will include a new Whitney Stadium with artificial turf, state-of-the-art Huffman track with Olympic-standard lanes, the latest in electronic information and scoring, on-site locker rooms for home and visiting teams, seating for 4,000, and more than 16,000 square foot enclosed multipurpose areas for community and regional events.
   • The BAC is estimated to cost $15 million to construct and equip, based on 2009 cost estimates.
3. What’s in the BAC for me?
   • Blue Hawk, Titan, and Midget student-athletes will have one of the best facilities in North Dakota.
   • Their fans will enjoy seating, comfort facilities, concession areas, parking, accessibility, and other amenities unmatched in our state.
   • Dickinson Public Schools and Dickinson Catholic Schools will not have to build their own football and track and field facilities.
   • Football games and track meets have a direct impact on our local economy.
   • Expanded opportunities for trade shows, concerts, community programs, and other events will benefit us directly and indirectly through increased numbers of visitors to Dickinson.
4. What new athletic events could take place in the BAC?
   • The BAC will provide opportunities for weekend football jamborees, regional track and field meets, and other athletic events – including those that require excellent lighting -  to take place in Dickinson, instead of in other cities.
   • Expanded opportunities would be available for DSU, DHS, and THS students who participate in intramural sports activities.
   • Youth soccer competitions could take advantage of the new, all-weather field.  
5. What types of events – other than football and track and field – would be expected to take place at the BAC?
   • Marching band, flag corps, drill team, and similar youth competitions from around the region and across the state could use the BAC.
   • More than 16,000 square feet of enclosed multipurpose space will be available for trade shows, special exhibits and expos, antique shows, concerts, family reunions, youth events (e.g., 4H), special dinners and other events.
   • The new Huffman track would provide community members with an excellent outdoor walking and jogging facility.
6. Will non-athletic events at the BAC compete with private businesses in Dickinson that offer facilities for such events?
• The 16,000 square feet for enclosed multipurpose use coupled other BAC facilities will add to facilities available to Dickinson area groups and other groups that want to come to the Dickinson area for conventions, meetings, expositions, etc.
7. Why is the BAC so important, given other city and county projects?
   • Street repairs, upgrading the volunteer fire station, the proposed fair grounds, hospital upgrades, and other public works projects are all important.  So, is providing excellent facilities for our community’s student-athletes and their fans plus multipurpose space for community meetings and events to attract visitors to our community.
   • Dickinson State University provides $85 million in direct and indirect economic benefits to our city and region, including 1,200 jobs.  The BAC will strengthen its ability to attract more students.
   • Just as the West River Community Center has enhanced our quality of life and place and community pride – so important to attracting and retaining a strong workforce – the BAC will play a similar role.
8. The West River Community Center cost $12 to $13 million; why does the BAC have to be so expensive.
   • The West River Community Center is a wonderful project – a source of community pride.  We want the BAC to be viewed in the same way.  The dollars required to build the Community Center reflect the type of facility and construction costs in 2001.  Cost estimates for the BAC reflect its facility components and 2009 estimated construction costs.  
   • The BAC has been designed to provide the spectator seating needed for DSU, DHS, THS athletic – including conference and regional - events.  In addition, the BAC seating and facility spaces anticipate the Dickinson area’s continued growth, including DSU’s student growth.
   • We must build for the future!
9. How will you come up with $15 million for the BAC?
   • The $15 million could come from public and private sources.  Public sources include the City of Dickinson, Stark County, Dickinson Public Schools, Dickinson Parks and Recreation, and Dickinson State University (through the DSU Foundation).  Private sources will include individuals, companies and businesses, and other organizations.
   • We can secure this $15 million if we work together as a community and region.
10. Will the State of North Dakota help fund these construction costs?
• No.  The state legislature will not fund the BAC’s construction costs.  However, we will approach the state to help fund the BAC’s operating costs.
11. How much is this going to cost me as a taxpayer?
• Our expectation of public monies would not involve any tax increases.
12. How will the Dickinson and surrounding area benefit economically from the BAC?
    • Restaurants, hotels, gasoline stations, retail stores, and other businesses benefit directly when participants and fans come to Dickinson for sporting and other events.
    • The impact of DSU on the region economically is immense – it is a magnet to attract people to Dickinson. DSU competes with universities across the nation for students. Students’ decisions about which university to attend are heavily influenced by modern and up-to-date facilities.  The BAC will greatly enhance DSU’s ability to attract an increasing number of students to Dickinson.
    • Our region’s economy is strong and on the move.  Many businesses have opportunities to grow significantly if we can attract and retain a skilled an energized workforce.  Doing so depends heavily on the quality of life that Dickinson and the West River Region offer. The BAC will contribute significantly to our quality of place and life.
13. Who is leading the efforts to secure funding for the BAC?
• Dr. Lee Vickers, President, Dickinson State University, is chairing the effort.  Other steering committee members include: Hank Biesiot, Head Football Coach, Ken Bischof, United Printing, Joel Bosch, Bosch Lumber, Vaune Cripe, American Bank Center, Rhonda Dukart, Consolidated, Mike Fisher, Fisher Industries, Jason Hopfauf, Dakota Community Bank, LaVern Jessen, Dennis Johnson, TMI, Mike Kelley, Kelley’s McDonald’s, Michael Lefor, Dakota Crediting Inc, Guy Moos, Baker Boy, Dan Porter, Dan Porter Motors, Dean Rummel, TMI, Pete Stanton, Head Track & Field Coach, Jon Stevenson, Stevenson-Mischel Olson Funeral Homes, Roger Ternes, Athletic Director, Dickinson State University, Kevin Thompson, Director of Alumni & Foundation, Dickinson State University, & Senator Richard Wardner.
14. What is the Badlands Activities Center’s “Joint Powers Agreement”?
• A Joint Powers Agreement is a legal document that allows public entities – Dickinson State University, City of Dickinson, Dickinson Public Schools, and Dickinson Parks and Recreation - to cooperate on projects like the BAC.  Stark County will execute its own Joint Powers Agreement. Each of the public entities must be comfortable with the final documents. The North Dakota Attorney General’s office will review these documents to ensure consistency with state laws and regulations.
15. What is the “Private Entities Agreement”?
• The Private Entities Agreement is a legal document between the public entities that signed the Joint Powers Agreement and certain private entities that have an interest in the design, planning, development, funding, maintenance, usage, and operation of the BAC.  These private entities include the Dickinson State University Foundation, Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce, Dickinson State University Blue Hawk Booster Club, Dickinson Catholic Schools, and the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
16. How much is it going to cost to secure the $15 million to construct and equip the BAC?
• Fundraising costs are estimated at $600,000. The DSU Foundation is spearheading this fund drive in conjunction with the other Alliance Partners. This will be a broad based campaign, thus there will be a cost to raise these funds.
17. What is the “receipting fee” referenced in the Joint Powers Agreement and the Private Entities Agreement?
• The DSU Foundation to coordinate and facilitate all fundraising solicitations and fundraising efforts for the BAC, including receiving and receipting all gifts made to the project, coordinating and facilitating any public campaign to, directly or indirectly, influence the vote of the public on the project and/or to encourage private gifts to the project. The two Agreements call for compensating the DSU Foundation for services rendered and expenses incurred to provide these services.  The amount of this compensation is in process of being determined.
  
18. Who will have title to the BAC?
• Dickinson State University will have title to the BAC.
19. Who will be responsible for operating the BAC, including long-term maintenance?
• Dickinson State University will be responsible for implementation of maintenance initiatives and general operations of the BAC.  DSU will request funds from the North Dakota Legislature in support of the BAC’s general operating and maintenance costs.
20. What is the Facility Development Board, and what is its role in the Badlands Activities Center.
    • The Joint Powers Agreement and Private Entities Agreement provide for a Facility Development Board to provide for the orderly development and ongoing improvement of the BAC, including advising Dickinson State University on scheduling, operating, and managing the BAC.
    • The Development Board’s membership comes from the public entities involved in the Joint Powers Agreement and the private entities involved in the Private Entities Agreement.  The Development Board is an administrative entity without separate legal existence from the parties to these Agreements.
21. How will the BAC operating costs and long-term maintenance costs be funded?
• The facility will be managed by DSU, and DSU will be responsible for the implementation of maintenance initiatives and general operations of the facility.  In an effort to address general operating costs, DSU will request funds in support of the facility through the North Dakota Legislature.  All parties represented on the Development Board will develop an agreed-upon operations budget for the facility.  The intent reflected in this agreement is to establish user fees at a level that will support the operations of the facility and allow for the establishment of a reserve fund that will be utilized to cover the cost of major repairs, etc.  The parties represented on the Development Board recognize the potential that the annual operating costs of the facility may not be covered by state appropriations and user fees.  The Development Board shall recommend a process that will determine annually the share of unfunded costs to be assessed to each party, should such costs materialize.  The process must be unanimously agreed to by the parties prior to the implementation. 
22. How will user fees be set for groups that want to use the BAC?
• The Joint Powers and Private Entities Agreements call for establishing user fees at levels that will support the operations of the BAC and will allow for establishment of a reserve fund to cover the cost of major repairs, etc.
23. Who will be responsible for providing concessions and food service at the BAC?
• DSU is responsible for all activities associated with concession sales at the facility unless otherwise assigned by DSU.  All net profits from concession sales shall belong to DSU.  DSU will make opportunities available to authorized clubs and organizations from the School District and Dickinson Catholic Schools, whereby the clubs and organizations would provide workers for concession sales and in return, receive a portion of the revenues.  DSU agrees to contribute 5% of all revenues from facility concession sales toward the repair and replacement of equipment supporting the concession operations and to establish an account for this purpose.
24. How long before you start the construction?
• According to our campaign timeline, our goal is to have $6,000,000 in commitments by December of 2007, which will allow us to move forward with the track and football field in the summer of 2008. This would be contingent upon contractor availability.
25. How will the BAC and its multi-purpose areas impact the University?
    • The BAC and its multi-purpose areas will help relieve the over use of the ballroom space located in the Student Center. The expansion carried out in 2000 was reduced in cost by more than $1 million dollars. This cost reduction impacted the student space for game rooms, dance floors, meetings rooms, and other social activities.  The ballrooms were also scaled down in size to comply with the State’s financial mandate resulting in seating for only 300 people for a sit-down meal.  The proposed Main Concourse Multi-Purpose area would allow for up to 600 for a sit-down meal.  This would be very beneficial to the University with the growing numbers of workshops and seminars that are scheduled for the betterment of the community and region. Plus the multi-purpose area on the Club Level would provide programming options for speakers and entertainment for the students. 
    • The BAC and its multi-purpose areas would become the home to the majority of DSU dances.  This would assist in freeing up the Student Center for the activities described above. In addition, the BAC would have the proper ventilation system to handle the more than 600 plus students that attend University dances.  Many of the University banquets that are currently held at the Student Center would also be moved to the new facility. 
    • The BAC and its multi-purpose areas would provide opportunities for academic/athletic receptions and award ceremonies.  With the growth of the University, Commencement could also be moved to this venue, if necessary.