The Warren County Commission Tuesday said it would support plans to have a new memorial plaza to honor deceased military veterans erected at the county’s new administration building. During a presentation made to the county commission, Warrenton VFW Post 2180 members Rick Mantione and Tom Carter said the organization is interested in spearheading the effort. They first wanted to see if the county would be open to having the memorial on county property prior to proceeding. The memorial would be funded through donations from individuals, businesses and organizations. Also, grants will be applied for to help offset some of the expense. “The VFW is initiating this, but we consider this a community project,” Mantione said. Construction is currently under way on the county’s new facility at the intersection of Highway 47 and Mockingbird Lane in Warrenton. It is scheduled to be completed next April. All non-court related offices will be housed at the new building. The memorial would be designed to honor local veterans. A committee of VFW members are still working on ideas for the proposed memorial, Carter said. He added members have been looking at others in O’Fallon, St. Peters and other communities. Though the group discussed expanding the current memorial at the courthouse, members began looking at alternatives once the county moved forward with the administration building project. “Our desire is it’s visible and it complements your building,” Carter said. Commissioners were receptive to the idea and said they would work to find a suitable spot for the memorial. Three options mentioned were near the administration building’s main entrance, on the side of the facility facing Highway 47 or near the corner of Highway 47 and Mockingbird Lane. “I think this commission will back you,” Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. “It would be an asset to us and an asset to the county.” Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson added: “I feel honored you would come to us and put it at the new facility.” Carter emphasized the existing memorial would remain. “We really want to have a nice memorial,” Carter said. “This would not supersede or replace the one we have at the courthouse. We want to compliment it.” Receive Monthly Update on Construction Forty-nine geothermal wells have been drilled, but 21 still remain as some progress has been made in the past month on the administration building project. Seventy wells are needed for the geothermal heating and cooling system. In his monthly report to the county commission, Greg Drake, of Septagon, reported work on the exterior metal studs has started and by the end of the month the roof trusses should begin to be put in place. Drake also noted that the retention basin and walkout basement will be excavated this week. Also, the sanitary lines from the facility will be connected to the city’s sewer system and work on the stormwater piping should start soon. The project, which began in October and is estimated to cost $6.5 million, is expected to be completed in February 2012. The overall project is being funded out of the county’s capital improvement fund.