The Warren County Commission expects to have a project manager in place within two weeks to oversee construction of a new administration building. The decision, however, won't be made until three proposals submitted by two firms are reviewed. "It's still up in the air," Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. "It's a decision-making process." The proposals were opened by the commissioners last Monday, Nov. 30. A representative from Septagon was the only person in attendance, the commission said. Septagon's proposal that conformed to the commissioner's bid notice was for $426,762. The firm also submitted a bid for $311,100, a figure it told commissioners could be met for the size and need for the project. PARIC proposal was $464,958. When asked about the disparity, the commissioners acknowledge PARIC wanted to submit a second proposal. "Since this one was presented two ways, I think it's only fair for PARIC to look at what Septagon did," Kluesner said. The commission met with a representative from PARIC on Monday afternoon, though no second price was submitted at that time. It is the commission's intention to utilize a project manager rather than a general contractor in order to use more construction crews from the county. The new facility will be built on approximately 3 acres located on South Highway 47 at the Mockingbird Lane intersection. The site was chosen over property just across the highway in the Brune Office Park and land already owned by the county located behind the courthouse. The two-story facility with a basement will be 39,232 square feet according to approved plans. According to a preliminary estimate provided by Treanor Architects, P.A., the entire project is expected to cost $6,880,495, including land acquisition and site work. The new administration building will house all non-court related departments, including the commission, county clerk, assessor, collector, health department, planning and zoning, environmental health and emergency management. The commission said the existing courthouse will eventually be renovated to include a third courtroom. PARIC is based in O'Fallon with an office in St. Louis. Septagon has four offices in Missouri, the closest in Columbia, with two more offices in Iowa. The county received only two bids despite contacting other firms about the project, the commissioners said. The commission met again Monday with Treanor officials, the project's design firm, to review details related to the exterior design of the building. The commissioners agreed to go with a flat, diagonal shaped roof for one area of the building rather than the higher-priced curved roof. Also, brick was selected over glass windows in a tower that serves as the main entry way to the building, a request previously made by the commission. In addition, a covered walkway was included for most of the southern side of the building, a feature that is expected to act as a window shade, Treanor officials said. The design firm also spent Monday and Tuesday this week meeting with the various county departments that will be moving to the new building to discuss and finalize the interior layout. Sharon Schmitz, of Treanor, pointed out the first phase of the project is now complete. She said the project is going over design development, a phase that will last up to February. Bids are expected to be prepared, according to a proposed schedule at the end of February. Construction is planned to begin in the spring and be completed in the fall, Treanor officials said. It is expected to take about one month to relocate the various departments that will occupy the building.