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Committee examines animal control kennel upgrades; preliminary cost estimates range $28,000–$43,000
Summary
Committee members and staff discussed installing five guillotine/EOT doors and adding kennel-run improvements at the county Animal Control Building, with past grant work pulled and a preliminary cost estimate range reported; staff said a new administrator will develop a formal budget request.
Iroquois County committee members discussed possible upgrades to the Animal Control Building July 20, including new kennel-run configurations and five guillotine/EOT-style doors that staff and one vendor estimated could cost between about $28,000 and $43,000 depending on features.
The discussion centered on animal and staff safety, sanitation and the potential to improve operations. An animal-control staff member described the EOT-style doors as mechanisms that can be raised and lowered — sometimes by cable or push-button — to move dogs safely between indoor kennels and an outdoor run and reduce direct handling. Staff said those doors help isolate aggressive animals and give dogs time to “decompress” away from other animals.
Committee members and staff reviewed past procurement history: a prior grant had been identified for similar work but the guillotine doors were removed from a subsequent rebid; the county installed concrete, fence and a new exterior access door instead. Staff said the most recent quote that included guillotine doors produced the higher estimate, while a more limited package produced the lower estimate. The transcript records that the difference between the ~$28,000 figure and the ~$43,000 figure was the inclusion of five doors.
Staff also reported on the building’s basic utilities and condition: a replaced mini-split unit, replacement of one condenser, and a generally serviceable roof and interior, though some door frames and finishes show animal wear. Staff said the facility includes a large wash tub and that the county is considering offering public wash services in the future as a possible revenue source once operations are stabilized.
No formal budget decision was taken; staff said the new county administrator will work on cost estimates and bring a budget proposal forward after she settles into the role. Committee members noted that the Illinois Department of Agriculture standards were a factor in equipment choices and that grant funding could be explored again.
