ST. REGIS - The Mineral County Commissioners received an update on the progress of the St. Regis Senior Citizens Center during regular meetings on Monday.

Sharon Patterson from the Extension Office reported that progress on the center has reached 25 percent.

"I think things are going along well," Patterson said. "We kind of had a bumpy start just trying to get through the maze of the Department of Commerce but I think we are right on top of it now."

Bill Nerison, the architect for the project, was on hand to discuss where the planning for the center is at as well as the plan for the future.

"As far as the schedule, where we are going from here, is that the three major components of the project – architectural, structural engineering and mechanical/plumbing and electrical engineering are nearly complete," Nerison said.

"They will be complete by the end of the week and I will be incorporating those into the full set of construction documents."

Nerison added that the work has been "a little unconventional" due to information on the site that was originally provided being inaccurate.

"It is so important to know exactly what we are going to find when we start opening the ground to dig for footings," Nerison said. "A lot of time in this last month has been spent making sure we have good soil to build on, knowing where all the utilities are and how to get them to the building."

By verifying these aspects of the project, Nerison said that it "ensures" they will not have to rebid on it after it is initially placed up for bidding.

"Rebidding projects is a painful process," Nerison said.

"It is expensive, it is time consumptive and I know Rural Development has a time limit on money for the (utilization of) mechanical equipment."

Mineral County Commissioner Roman Zylawy asked Nerison if any preference would be given to local contractors when the construction portion of the senior citizens center went up for bid.

"We need to make it open for everyone," Nerison said.

"The Montana preference has to be waived I am afraid. I would like to cost out, in real world dollars, from contractors who will actually come in and do the work."

Nerison added that if a local contractor is qualified "there is no reason" why they would not be considered by the general contractor that wins the bid.

"I think it will be well within a regional contractors ability to be on even footing with anyone in the state," Nerison said.

The estimated completion date for the center is in June and Nerison added that they are hoping for a July opening.