Commission backs historic preservation grant match and hears construction updates for TDAC and elections building

The Dade County Board of Commissioners added a memorandum of understanding supporting a 2026 Certified Local Government (CLG) survey and planning grant to the consent agenda and received project updates on the Trenton Dade Animal Center (TDAC) and the Elections Building.

Chair described the county’s multi‑year CLG survey process that began in 2019 and explained the county is requesting $20,400 toward an estimated $34,000 survey cost for a South Dade survey; the balance of $13,600 is listed as a cash/in‑kind match already collected from prior grants. "We're requesting 20,400 and a CLG grant...13,600 will be the cash and in‑kind match," the chair said.

The commission also heard from Alex Case on construction progress: the Elections Building contractor and major trade subcontractors are doing valued‑engineering work and are expected to return pricing on Jan. 21; Case said initial plumbing routing changes were required to avoid deep sewer runs and that civil/site work and grading will follow. On the Trenton Dade Animal Center, Case said building drawings have been submitted to TDAC, the manufacturer’s drawings are expected this month, the property topo was surveyed, and the building delivery is anticipated in February with concrete/site work to follow.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about cost shares for TDAC capital expense approvals (county and city must both approve capital expenditures), and the chair said no final action on TDAC was required at the meeting beyond the advisory board announcement; the MOU supporting the CLG grant match was added to the consent agenda and approved.