Wilson County commission approves purchase and design funding for animal control facility

Wilson County Animal Control commissioners voted to buy the former road commission building and authorized early design work and a separate equipment purchase at their recent meeting.

The commission approved buying the old road commission building for $1,500,000, to be paid in three $500,000 installments over the next three years, and approved a $500,000 transfer to cover the first scheduled payment. Commissioners also authorized funds to develop design documents and bid an addition to the facility with a total project cap not to exceed $3,000,000; that cap includes approximately $250,189 budgeted to cover professional services and design fees so the project can be put out to bid. Separately, the commission approved using donations from the Gretchen Wilson fund to purchase a portable dog‑tag machine for community outreach.

The measures passed by voice vote with three commissioners present. No individual roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript; motions were seconded and approved by voice.

Why it matters: the county says the purchase and addition are intended to expand shelter and intake capacity and to reduce the number of animals that must be housed through shelter intake by supporting adoptions and community outreach. The design package under consideration would add an estimated 4,341 square feet of new construction and renovate portions of the existing building to reach about 8,814 total square feet; the county estimates the addition at $474 per square foot and has included contingency amounts for renovation, fencing, play yards and professional services.

Commission discussion and staff presentation

A staff presenter described a refined concept that reduces the square footage of the proposed addition and relocates some functions into the existing structure to control costs. The presentation showed a layout the county said would provide 33 healthy-dog kennels and five intake spaces (38 total), with plans for isolation and clinic rooms and the ability to temporarily double capacity by halving kennel space in an emergency. The presenter said play yards and certain utility areas remain priorities; play yards were budgeted at about $23,400 and the project includes an allowance for fencing and other site work.

On cost estimates, staff described the market as volatile, noting steel, stainless cages and concrete prices are rising and that some cage-and-kennel systems currently range from about $100,000 to $150,000. The presentation used a per‑square‑foot estimate for the 4,341‑square‑foot addition of $474, producing an addition cost near $2,043,414; renovation of the existing building was estimated around $137 per square foot. The county said it received a quote of roughly $42,000 to repair the existing roof and included a $203,598 allowance for professional services, which staff said could be reduced if a pre‑engineered metal building is used and package services are included.

Selection of design services and next steps

Commissioners discussed the design‑firm selection process. Staff said the county is not contractually bound to the design firm that produced the preliminary drawings (referred to in discussion as DLI) and that the county plans to solicit qualifications from multiple firms before advising the mayor on a final selection. Commissioners agreed that procurement of professional services should follow a qualifications‑based evaluation rather than being decided solely on price; staff said typical architecture/engineering fees are often calculated as a percentage of construction cost and that the county would present options to the mayor for the final appointment. The commission authorized the $250,189 design allocation as part of the $3,000,000 project cap so design documents can be completed and the project bid.

Other actions and staff report

Earlier in the meeting the commission accepted a director’s report noting the shelter is "full into puppy season" and that adoption outreach will increase as animals complete vaccinations and become adoptable. The commission also approved a transfer from the Gretchen Wilson donations fund to buy a portable, warrantied tag‑making machine for outreach events; staff said tags help reunite lost dogs with owners and reduce shelter intake costs over time.

Votes at a glance

- Purchase of former road commission building for $1,500,000, payable in three $500,000 installments: approved by voice vote (3 commissioners present). - Allocation of $500,000 for first‑year payment: approved by voice vote (3 commissioners present). - Budget authorization to design and bid an animal control addition not to exceed $3,000,000, including ~$250,189 for professional/design services: approved by voice vote (3 commissioners present). - Transfer from Gretchen Wilson donations fund to purchase a portable dog‑tag machine: approved by voice vote (3 commissioners present).

What the transcript records and what remains to be determined

The commission directed staff to complete design documents and seek bids; commissioners discussed, but did not finalize, which firm will deliver the full design package. The transcript records general cost estimates, design preferences (a masonry exterior to match the existing building and an at‑grade 6‑foot wide door for deliveries and pallet‑jack access), and contingency planning for disease‑segregation and emergency capacity, but final bid amounts and a contractor selection were not made during the meeting. Funding sources and financing method for construction (capital projects fund, capital outlay note, bonds) will be addressed later in budget review and commission processes.

Ending

Staff said the next formal steps are to gather professional qualifications, complete design documents under the approved design budget, put the project out to bid, and return bids and financing recommendations to the commission and county budget office for final authorization.