Aiken County Council now must narrow even further the field of architectural firms which submitted proposals on the expansion and modification of the current County Complex after hearing presentations from the top six earlier this week.

The firms selected as the top six contenders based on the caliber of their proposals individually met with Council Monday and Tuesday in closed executive session and presented their conceptual plans.

Council members report a particular firm has not yet been identified as the favorite, partly because there are more questions to be answered.

County Administrator Clay Killian said he will be contacting several firms in the next few days to gather additional information, including cost estimates, to be presented to Council at its Jan. 19 meeting. Council is then expected to further discuss the issue in executive session.

The top six firms have not been identified.

Councilman Sandy Haskell called each presentation "outstanding."

"I don't think any of the six would do a bad job. With the current economic situation being what it is, now is the time to move forward. Prices have leveled out and sometimes even declined from where they peaked three to four years ago. We want the best building economically, the best building that serves the community and one that is aesthetically pleasing," he said.

The firms were asked to submit plans on the design and construction of 120,000 extra square feet on the site, coupled with the building's existing 66,000 square feet. Each proposal indicated the work could be done at the existing site on Richland Avenue.

Council Chairman Ronnie Young anticipates that, once Council narrows the field even further, the remaining firms will be asked to come back and the scope of their conceptual proposals refined by parameters set forth by Council. Then, at least one or two firms will be asked to submit contract proposals.

Once the final firm is chosen, the public will be encouraged to provide its input because "this is their building," Young said.

"Council was very pleased with the presentations. I just hope we can get this process moving," he said.

Killian believes Council could select a firm in February. The design process will take another eight months to one year.