Chilton County to consider HVAC, roofing and spay-neuter payment changes at animal shelter

A commissioner asked the Chilton County Commission to approve upgrades to the county animal shelter's HVAC system and to allow preapproved monthly payments for spay-and-neuter services to avoid delays in releasing adopted animals.

The commission heard that Giles Cooling and Heating provided a proposal for a five-zone HVAC system with controls to allow fresh-air flow and UV lights to address airborne viruses. The commissioner said the system's fresh-air controls and UV lights are important because of persistent ammonia odors at the shelter in the mornings.

The same commissioner reported exterior repairs at the shelter are nearly complete: block siding and gables are installed, the standing-seam roof was expected to be finished the following day, painters would follow in one to two weeks, and new guillotine doors are on site for immediate installation.

Separately, staff alerted the commission to a process delay that is holding up payment to spay-and-neuter vendors. A commissioner asked the commission to preapprove up to $2,000 per month from the professional services budget to pay spay-and-neuter bills promptly; the county has about $35,000 remaining in that budget line, the commissioner said. The change is intended to prevent animals from accumulating at the shelter and to speed adoption releases.

Commissioners did not vote on the HVAC contract or the preapproval during the session; the items were introduced for action at an upcoming meeting. The commissioner also announced a resignation that will create a Tech 1 vacancy at the shelter and requested authority for an emergency hire until the position is filled.

The commission accepted the reports and signaled it will place the HVAC, emergency-hire and spay-and-neuter preapproval items on a future agenda for formal action.