Lincoln city officials should be able to move into their expanded headquarters by month's end.

Architect Richard Bohrer updated the Lincoln City Council on Thursday about the $409,000 expansion project of the Lincoln Administrative Office.

Bohrer said he expects the move back into the building could occur sometime this month.

"It's all happening at once. It's going really fast," auditor Melanie Kitzan said.

"The new part of the building is up. We expect to have the interior of building done in the next two weeks. The painting should be done. We've ordered all the furnishings."

She said the carpet can be installed after the painting is complete.

Kitzan and most of the city staff have been cramped in a trailer on the grounds since September. "We don't have a lot of furniture.We've been using card tables," she said. "The residents have been understanding."

She said monthly newsletters have been sent to keep them updated about the progress and about city news.

Lincoln City Council meetings have been held at D.J.'s Pizza and Lounge in the interim.

The project involves remodeling the existing portion of the 30-year-old building and adding a section.

The work expands the building from 24x48 feet to 66x48 feet.

The renovation is being funded through an annual building levy. Funding raised from the mill levy is set aside for special projects in a savings account, Kitzan said.

The administrative office houses the city auditor, the deputy auditor, the building inspector and the two-person police department for Lincoln.

The main contractor for the project is Associated Builders of Bismarck.

R&K Electric of Bismarck was named the contractor. Advanced Plumbing and Heating completed mechanical work.

Kitzan said a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for sometime in January to allow residents to get a good view of the improvements.

In other business, the Lincoln City Council agreed to raise water rates from $3.25 per 1,000 gallons to $3.35 per 1,000 gallons to meet price increases from the city of Bismarck. Lincoln draws its water source from Bismarck.

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