County will ask for estimates on new shelter cost
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on March 6, 2006 1:52 PM
Construction of a new Wayne County animal shelter could be delayed as county officials look for more information from architectural firms concerning the project.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners decided in January to ask architectural firms to provide their estimates of costs for construction of several different aspects of the shelter such as dog runs, structural layout and offices.
The estimates were sought in advance of the formal bid process for the actual construction of the shelter. They were designed to give the county a better idea of what the final cost of the project would be, and how it could save money during its construction, County Manager Lee Smith said.
The commissioners only received three responses, which were not enough to get a clear picture of what is needed and what it will cost, Smith said. So, now the county will ask again for estimates, he said.
"We are going to expand the search, and it is going to take a couple of extra weeks. We are looking at other companies with experience in building animal shelters," Smith said.
The county's Animal Control Advisory Committee presented a proposal to the county commissioners for a new shelter in December. The plan included the land, construction costs and the reasons why the committee members decided a new shelter was necessary.
The committee estimated the total construction, including site preparation costs of $39,000, would be more than $1.1 million. The committee proposed the new shelter could be built on Eighth Street at the former Wayne Community College campus site.
The current shelter was built in 1956 and is 1,150 square feet.
Committee chairman Dr. Stan Griffith told the commissioners the shelter is located in a floodplain, lacks safe animal containment facilities and is unsanitary.
The proposed shelter would be 10,000 square feet, including as many as 108 dog runs, more than 50 cat runs and galvanized divider panels between animals.
The county commissioners approved the location of a new shelter, but did not approve the proposed structure because of cost concerns.
Once county officials are comfortable with the estimates from the architects, Smith said he and the commissioners would discuss possible construction and costs.