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Savannah Clement asks commissioners to add animal‑control building remodel to five‑year plan
Summary
Public Services asked the Cowlitz County commission to add an animal‑control building remodel to the county facilities plan and to authorize staff to develop cost estimates for retrofitting the existing building or procuring modular kennels; commissioners gave direction to proceed and requested return cost numbers.
Savannah Clement, Public Services, told the Cowlitz County commissioners she was formally requesting that the county add an Animal Control Building remodel to the facilities plan and authorize staff to develop cost estimates and bring options back to the board. "So I'm asking permission for that to be added and then also seeking direction to make sure that the board is okay with moving forward in, kinda refurbishing this building," Clement said.
Clement said the sheriff's office will resume the animal control function after the county chose not to renew the expired contract with the humane society. A primary technical hurdle is adding sewer service; Clement said the city of Longview has offered to help identify where a sewer line could be located and how to expedite the connection.
Facilities staff said a new project manager recently completed a walk‑through of the building and will compare two approaches: retrofitting part of the existing building or buying modular kennel units. The project manager estimated the footprint being considered could hold at least 11 kennels and that repurposing more of the building could allow as many as about 20. "Long term, we need more than 8," the sheriff's office representative said, describing limits of the temporary facilities used previously.
Commissioners and staff discussed possible regional partners and cost‑sharing arrangements with nearby cities such as Kelso and Longview; facilities said preliminary talks with Kelso considered a per‑animal, per‑day fee and that partner buy‑in would include negotiated contributions for capital and veterinary costs.
After discussion, staff asked for direction to obtain revised cost estimates for both retrofit and modular options and to return to the board with budgetary recommendations. A commissioner responded, "Go for it," and staff said they would return with numbers and proposals for moving funds within facilities lines if needed.
Next steps: staff will develop cost estimates for retrofit and modular options, research potential partner contributions and external funding sources, and present figures and recommendations at a future commissioners meeting.
