WCMessenger.com: Sheriff hopes cooperation leads to new animal shelter

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Sheriff hopes cooperation leads to new animal shelter

By Skip Nichols | Published Thursday, August 30, 2007

It appears it will take some cooperation by the Wise County Sheriff's Posse if the county wants to build a new animal shelter in a highly-visible location.

It appears it will take some cooperation by the Wise County Sheriff's Posse if the county wants to build a new animal shelter in a highly-visible location.

Sheriff David Walker told commissioners Monday he will visit with the Sheriff's Posse to see if the group is willing to allow the county to build on the Posse Grounds near Farm Road 51 on the edge of Decatur.

The state shut down the county's current animal shelter two months ago. It is on the far southeast corner of the Posse Grounds.

"We're not going to get the current shelter open until we build a new one," Walker told commissioners. He said that was the message of a state health department official.

The Sheriff's Posse has a long-term lease on the grounds - 40 years left on a loosely written agreement, according to Precinct 1 Commissoner Robert Rankin.

Walker said "it makes sense to build it (the animal shelter) on land the county owns."

Walker has proposed building a 6,100 square foot design-built facility with 76 dog pens. He estimated its cost at $600,000.

McElhaney said the county is considering including the $600,000 as part of a $9 million capital improvements plan that would be funded by certificates of obligation.

That could be good news for property owners, since county debt is paid for from sales tax revenues.

In addition, he has said that inmates could also build corrals at the site for horses and other large animals that the county confiscates or captures as strays.

County Judge Bill McElhaney said that he and Precinct 4 Commissioner Terry Ross had discussed putting a new shelter on property with a new precinct barn on County Road 2123 outside of Bridgeport.

In either event, commissioners seemed to like the idea of a design-built structure - particularly after architect Jeff Heffelfinger proposed a $1 million animal shelter last year. They've made it plain that his high-priced design did not sit well with them, especially since they told him they were not willing to spend more than $600,000.

A couple of hitches developed, however, during Monday's discussion.

Commissoners learned that, under the state's local government code, they are severely restricted from asking for proposals on design-built buildings.

For one, it said the county must have either an independent architect or engineer evaluate the building design and that the county could not negotiate - or even discuss - a price.

That did not sit well with either Precinct 4 Commissioner Mikel Richardson or Rankin.

"None of this is designed to protect taxpayers or save them money," said Richardson. "I think this (the law) is designed to protect engineers and architects."

Rankin agreed, noting "somebody's got some powerful lobbyists in Austin."

However, Rankin noted that the county could use its current consulting engineering firm - Kimley-Horn - as its independent representative.

Commissioners were also reminded that the county had a contract with Heffelfinger to design the animal shelter.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Burns wanted some kind of action - and he made a move to get a "final bill" from Heffelfinger for his initial design efforts on the animal shelter "with the understanding that his services will be terminated on the project over his price structure."

Burns did add that he would welcome another proposal by Heffelfinger if it met the $600,000 ceiling - and if he did it without additional cost to the county.

That motion passed 5-0.

On a positive note, the county's leaders got good news from Walt Partin, the owner of the upscale BlooMoon Pet Resort, who has led the vocal support for a new animal shelter.

Partin said he believes he has 30 to 40 people who would be willing to volunteer at least 8 hours a month in running an animal shelter that emphasizes adoption over euthanization.

"I'll do whatever I need to do to help," he said. "But it looks like you've got this (the building project) under control."

All that may depend on the Sheriff's Posse's cooperation, Heffelfinger's contract and the restrictions of the state law.