FARGO – North Dakota State University may soon request $1.6 million from the state Legislature to cover costs related to the Minard Hall collapse in 2009.

The State Board of Higher Education's budget and finance committee voted unanimously Wednesday in Bismarck to recommend that the full board give NDSU authority to seek a "deficiency appropriation."

Previous Minard Hall collapse coverage

In July, NDSU settled the two remaining lawsuits regarding Minard Hall and received more than $3 million, but the university spent about $4.7 million after the collapse of its largest academic building. The amount NDSU is now seeking would cover the difference, Chief of Staff Chris Wilson said in an email.

Minard Hall fell into its excavation site on Dec. 27, 2009, in the midst of an $18 million expansion.

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NDSU then sued its insurer, the State Fire and Tornado Fund, for rejecting its claim, as well as five companies involved in the project, such as the architect and engineering firms.

In a third case, Grant's Mechanical sued NDSU because the collapse set the project back and the contractor alleged it had not been adequately compensated. The university paid $220,000 to settle that case in April.

The full board meets Dec. 10, and if the recommendation is approved, NDSU will "work with the Legislature to determine the mechanism and timing of the request," spokeswoman Sadie Rudolph said in an email.