A $409,000 expansion project is under way for the Lincoln Administrative Office.

Work started about three weeks ago and is expected to finish by late December.

"They've got the footings in and the flooring is being poured," said Karen Daly, president of the Lincoln City Council.

She said the project will remodel the existing portion of the 30-year-old building and add a section.

The administrative office houses the city auditor, the deputy auditor, the building inspector and the two-person police department for Lincoln. Daly describes the current situation as cramped.

"This will (enlarge) the building from 24 feet by 48 square feet to 66 feet by 48 square feet," Daly said. "It will add more offices. The auditor will have a private office when needed. The building inspector will have his own office area. The police will have room for three people and there will be room for storage."

She added there will be a "considerably bigger meeting room."

Daly said while construction continues, the offices have been moved to a trailer on the lot of the administrative office. "It's very cozy in here," she commented. "The paperwork has been moved here. It's still accessible to the public."

Associated Builders of Bismarck was awarded the general contracting bid for $327,600.

R&K Electric Bismarck was named the contractor to do the electrical work with a bid of $33,100. Advanced Plumbing and Heating will complete mechanical work at the site for $48,491.

The project is being funded through an annual building levy. Funding raised from the mill levy is set aside for special projects in a savings account, according to Auditor Melanie Kitzan.

She said the five mill levies feeding the fund for the city of Lincoln was valued at $13,873 in 2007 and is estimated at $17,066 in 2008.

Kitzan said instead of putting the building levy money into the saving account, it will automatically be used to pay off a $200,000 general obligation bond for the project.

The expansion also will be funded through general funds and land sales organized through the city of Lincoln.

Daly said commissioners did not want to burden residents with another special assessment to cover the expansion costs for the administrative building.

Lincoln residents are already paying special assessments on:

n A 2007 citywide street improvement project for $860,000.

n A $447,000 project for a water transmission line that links to the Bismarck water treatment system, built in 2004.

n A $397,944 sewer system, built in 2004.

"The expansion is going to make it easier for the public, there will be more seating at the meetings and it will be way better for the workers there. It won't be such tight office space," Daly said.

Kitzen said commission meetings will be held in the meeting area of Mickey's until the expansion project is complete at the end of the year.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@;bismarcktribune.com)