FARMINGTON — Twenty-three general contractors attended a mandatory prebid meeting Tuesday for the construction of a new dispatch center, Stan Wheeler, chairman of the Franklin County Dispatch Building Committee, said Wednesday.

Some interested subcontractors also attended, he said.

An architect from Plymouth Engineering Inc. was there to answer any questions contractors may have had, Wheeler said.

The bids are due Dec. 4 and will be opened by commissioners. It is expected the winning bidder will be notified that day, project engineer Keith Ewing said previously.

It is expected that once the contract is awarded construction will begin within two weeks, he said.

Franklin County voters approved building a new center for a cost of up to $598,300.

The general contractor will have 16 weeks to get the building substantially completed, Ewing told commissioners this month.

It doesn't mean the new building has to be done, it means the building has to be able to be occupied, he said.

It is expected the project will be ready by June 1 or July 1, 2013. Dispatchers may have to continue to work out of the sheriff's office until the new 911 emergency system is installed.

dperry@sunjournal.com