The planned new administration building won't open this year and county offices likely won't be relocated until next spring at the earliest, the Warren County Commission learned last Thursday. In an updated preliminary time line presented by Treanor Architects, the firm in charge of designing the building, construction is anticipated to begin in mid-July. That is a delay of nearly three months from the initial schedule when construction was slated to start at the end of April. The project's schedule has been slowed mainly due to the extra time spent on finalizing the interior and exterior design, which was completed in mid-December. Initially it was supposed to have been completed by October. The administration building, to be constructed on property purchased by the county on South Highway 47, will house all non-court related offices and is projected to cost around $5.8 million. It was the commissioners' hope to have the building opened late this fall, with a month following to have the county offices moved. If construction begins in July, Septagon representatives acknowledged they will be hustling to get the building "buttoned up" in five month before inclement weather hits. Another concern raised was what happens if bad weather arrives prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. "It will be right on the line," said Nick Smith, Septagon operations manager. The project is currently in the design development phase which should be completed by March. Construction documents will be prepared and reviewed prior to the start of the bidding process beginning in early May. That phase is expected to last for nine weeks and includes the submission and review of bids. During last week's meeting, Treanor and Septagon officials said they would work to tighten up the project schedule. The bidding process likely will be shortened by a week or two and other areas will be expedited if possible. "What I'm looking at is, a one-week gain on the front end is going to make a big difference," Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. "What concerns me more than anything is when we start." While disappointed in the delay, the commissioners were primarily concerned that the exterior of the building be completed and work moved inside by the time weather worsens. "We need to turn things around as quickly as possible, but still be efficient," Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage remarked. "We want a good end program. We don't want to rush on something and miss it." Septagon President Dennis Paul remarked that a smaller project that his company is currently overseeing was having construction beginning in May in order to be safely completed by winter. He did note the construction start for the county project will depend on when the steel can be delivered to the site. "We're in a good environment for bidding right now," Paul said. "We need to press ahead as promptly as we can." Sharon Schmitz of Treanor said representatives will be meeting with department heads again this week to review the interior layout of each office. The design firm is scheduled to meet with the commission again in two weeks.