Committee asks administrator to return with funding plan for commercial washer and dryer at animal shelter

County staff presented a proposal July 14 to replace residential laundry equipment at the Culpeper County animal shelter with commercial-grade units to improve sanitation and reduce staff workload.

The presenter, identified in the meeting as Roberson, said the shelter operates laundry at a commercial scale and that the current residential machines are running roughly 3,000 operating hours per year compared with design expectations of a few hundred hours per year. ‘‘Laundry is not a secondary function in the animal shelter. It is essential to animal care, clean bedding, towels, kennel materials are required every day to maintain sanitation, reduce disease risk, and provide a safe environment for the animals in our care,’’ Roberson said.

Roberson said he received a vendor recommendation from PAC Industries and presented a quoted package price of $9,159.89, which would include delivery, installation and removal of the old machines. He described performance improvements in the proposed LG Titan washer and dryer — increased capacity per load, faster extraction (from about 750 rpm to 980 rpm), and lower water use — and estimated water savings of about 15,000 gallons annually based on current shelter usage.

Committee members asked for additional vendor comparisons and for a defined funding plan. The chair directed the interim county administrator to return next month with a budget transfer and contract recommendation. Several members suggested interim measures to reduce costs, including using a solar dryer while staff finalizes procurement.

Staff will bring a detailed funding and procurement plan to the Buildings and Grounds Committee next month for a final recommendation to the board.