Many interesting tidbits came out of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority meeting on Friday.
Among them: Chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen received a $25,000 raise, increasing her salary to $127,000. Members of the authority voted unanimously on the move, saying Kelm-Helgen has more than earned the pay increase.
In addition, Allen Troshinsky, director of operations for stadium general contractor Mortenson Construction, said to date, roughly 160,000 cubic yards of dirt have been removed from the eastern side of the Metrodome site. All told, about 850,000 cubic yards of dirt will be removed from the site.
Troshinsky said the polar vortex hasn't slowed construction -- so far seven out of 330 piers for the foundation have been drilled. And the first of five cranes will be erected next week. Once the Dome is deflated, the true demolition of the building will begin.
Just 75 people have been on-site, so far, but that number will swell to about 300 in the next several months, he said.
All told, $400 million of the work has been awarded out of the $763 million construction project. Of the $400 million, $100 million came from minority or women-owned businesses, he said, noting the stadium is indeed on schedule.
