North Dakota Schools File Suit Over Building Construction

The Fargo, N.D., school district is suing a contractor for what it calls bad workmanship on the ceilings of the Trollwood Performing Arts School administration building.

The suit against Contemporary Builders Inc. seeks more than $50,000, but the school district’s lawyer says fixing the wood ceilings could cost as much as $300,000.

The building is part of the Bluestem Center for the Arts in neighboring Moorhead, Minn.

Joe Wetch, the school district attorney, tells the Forum that the amount of cost for any repairs is “widely in dispute.”

Randall Bakke, attorney for the contractor, was not available for comment.

More than two months ago the Fargo School District took over operation of the Bluestem Center, following the financial troubles of the nonprofit fundraising group that had been running the facility.