Inclement weather is no longer the reason for delays in the construction of the new Nodaway County Administration Center.

A shortage of ironworkers on the scene has caused the steel erection company to complete their work more slowly than was expected.

County Commissioners Joe Baumli, Bob Westfall and Bob Stiens made a stop at the Nodaway County Administration Center Wednesday morning to inspect the work in progress.

“The progress is getting better,” Commissioner Westfall said. “We have been having problems getting enough steelworkers to make progress as fast as we had hoped.”

Concrete has been poured on the second floor of the building; however, the concrete company is waiting for the steel erection crew to complete installation of the upper deck floor pan to allow pouring concrete on that level as well.

The commission met in special session with the steel construction manager Monday to discuss problems they are having and attempt to help them work toward solutions. The commissioners encouraged the company to complete their part of the construction as soon as possible.

Westfall said the need for steelworkers in the St. Joseph and Kansas City areas has taken several workers from the construction sight in Nodaway County, making the crew shorthanded many days.

“There just aren’t as many steelworkers available as there used to be,” he said. “I'm sure the bigger city jobs pay more.”

Not only is the concrete company waiting for the go-ahead on their part of the project, but also the Omega Company, which pours and installs the precast concrete walls is ready to begin their portion.

“The precast concrete walls are ready,” Presiding Commissioner Baumli said. “They are poured and being stored in Kansas City. That company is anxious to get the walls installed.”

Commissioners agree they are optimistic that the administration center will make noticeable visual changes in the very near future. They believe the steel erection company will be finished with their part of the construction in a week or two and then the walls will start going up.

“When the walls start going up, big changes will happen fast,” Baumli said.

The administration center is tentatively slated for completion sometime in early 2009.