Image courtesy of Greene County Animal Facility Facebook page
The City of Jefferson is going to take another run at bidding for a new animal shelter.
The Jefferson City Council approved at this past Tuesday’s meeting the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimate for the new Greene County Animal Shelter, with land donated by Greene County Development Corporation in their west business park along Highway 4 in Jefferson. The Council rejected all bids earlier this year, due to the lowest bid being over $1 million, which was over the engineer’s original cost estimate.
City Administrator Mike Palmer says they have since been working with the architect, Atura Architecture, to make adjustments to the facility. The new plans call for 1,000 square foot less to 3,000 square feet, 14 total dog kennels, 33 cat cages, separate cat and dog intake and isolation rooms, as well as a clinic and exam area. Palmer points out the cost estimate is $745,000, which he says can be done via already raised donations and up to $400,000 that the Council approved for bonding for the project.
“Now that gets the building built. The inside, there’s been donations for that to put a lot of the interior work through donations.”
Palmer talks about another feature along with a new animal shelter.
“The dog park is still part of the plan. That’s being (done) through donated funds. That’ll be a great addition to the animal shelter. And it’s something that people can use anytime. They don’t have to just to be using the animal shelter to use the dog park. Although connected it’ll separate access.”
Palmer notes the next step is to receive bids on September 9th, with a recommendation presented to the City Council at their September 14th meeting. If approved, the contractor could start construction as early as this fall.