The Warren County Commission is considering voting on a local bidder ordinance in an effort to use many county workers to construct the new administration building.

The commissioners said they have yet to finalize details for the ordinance, but approval could come later this month near the time the bid package is expected to get a final review.

Under the proposed local bidder ordinance, the commission could elect to go with a higher figure submitted by a local bidder if it falls within a defined range of the low bid.

“Our goal is getting Warren County people working on this project,” Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said.

Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner feels local companies would take more pride if involved in the project and be better to assist if problems would arise in the future.

“I think we’re getting a better building in the process,” he said.

Though a local ordinance would allow some leeway in awarding bids to local companies, the county commission would not be prohibited from choosing another bid that is deemed better.

“It gives you the ability to use local if you want to,” Kluesner said.

At a July 1 meeting with Septagon, project manager, and Treanor Architects PA, the building’s design firm, an updated time line in regards to the bidding process was released. As of now, bidding will begin Aug. 3 with the bid opening tentatively scheduled for Sept. 2 at 2 p.m.

The delay is mainly due to the soil tests being conducted this week at the site to determine how many wells will be needed for a geothermal heating and cooling system.

The new building, initially expected to be finished by this fall but pushed back due to a delay in the design process, won’t likely open until late 2011 at the earliest.

Despite the slow process with the project, Nick Smith of Septagon believes the county will receive competitive bids.

“People are still hungry,” Nick Smith said. “Bids are coming in under budget, but materials aren’t getting any cheaper.”

The new county building, to be constructed on approximately 3 acres purchased last year on South Highway 47 and Mockingbird Lane, will house all non-court related offices. The county has budgeted $6 million to construct a 36,071-square-foot two-story facility.

The county has been awarded $227,745 from two grants that will cover expenses to construct and outfit the emergency management agency portion of the building. The county also is attempting to receive a grant from AmerenUE from the company’s energy-efficiency program to help offset the expense of installing the geothermal system.

Three bid alternates — finishing the health department, paving the employee parking lot and purchasing a new commission chambers desk — are likely the only ones to be included in the bid package. If project bids come in under budget, all three alternates would be awarded.