Current facility by wastewater treatment plant

A project in Greene County took another step forward last week after suffering a setback. 

The Jefferson City Council set a public hearing for its August 24th meeting for the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimate for the Greene County Animal Shelter project. The project took a step backwards in November of 2020 when all bids that were received for a new facility that is anticipated to be located in the Greene County Development Corporation West Business Park along Highway 4 in Jefferson, were rejected, with the lowest bid of just over $1 million. The architect firm anticipated the cost between $450,000-$500,000.

City Administrator Mike Palmer says plans for the new building had to change.

“So we needed to go back to the drawing board and see how we could shrink the project a little bit, and maybe get it down to what we thought we could handle. And to shrink the square footage was a big part of it, and maybe do some more in-kind construction on the city’s end of it. So we will see when those bids open. We’re kind of keeping our fingers crossed.”

Palmer points out they are anticipating the cost estimate to be between $750,000-$800,000. He notes once the public hearing happens, bids are then due to be received by September 9th on the 3,000 square-foot facility. Palmer reminds everyone that over $600,000 has been raised by private donations and pledges, while the City Council approved issuing up to $400,000 in bonds to cover the rest. Palmer adds construction could start as early as this October.