In the months before Mortenson Construction sought mediation over payment for work at the Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium, at least two subcontractors "reached out in distress to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority," but the MFSA "brushed the concerns aside," according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The subcontractors’ letters, "sent in early June and late May, presaged what has become" a $15M dispute between the MSFA and Mortenson "over costs" at the $1.1B stadium. St. Paul-based Custom Drywall Operations Manager Kevin Halverson said that the firm was "on the verge of leaving the project because it had 'exhausted all our financial resources.'" Texas-based Derr & Isbell VP Brian Isbell said that his company "hadn’t been paid" for $2.4M in work. MSFA Exec Dir & CEO Ted Mondale said, "Mortenson is required to manage issues with its subcontractors.” Mortenson Senior VP John Wood said that the company "itself paid subcontractors who were in danger of going bankrupt." Olson notes Mortenson now "wants to be paid by the MSFA" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/1).
