Commissioners approve $42,377 for animal-services cleaning system and supplies

The Victoria County Commissioners Court approved a funding request of $42,377.10 for the new Victoria County Animal Services facility renovation at 511 Prophet Street, including $33,902.10 for installation of a central wet-vac cleaning system and $8,475 to cover a down payment for supplies.

Mark, Animal Services staff, described the wet-vac central cleaning system as a mechanical cleaning solution for kennels that collects solids, sprays disinfectant and reduces labor; he said the vendor (JCG Enterprises) is effectively a single local provider and requested the down payment because the vendor is a one-person operation who has had to scale back and requires prepayment. Mark said he checked other providers but found no compatible systems regionally.

Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the funding request; the motion passed. Staff discussed possible funding sources, saying the court could decide whether to charge the expense to the capital projects fund (CEOs) or the general fund and noted the item could be included in upcoming capital projects discussions and could be reimbursable in a later round if appropriate.

No precise account coding was decided at the meeting; staff said they would include the item in capital projects planning and reported that the vendor's May 6, 2024 estimate remained valid when rechecked in the week before the meeting.