Sanilac County approves $850,000 ARPA-funded animal shelter contract with local builder

The Sanilac County Board of Commissioners voted April 1 to award the county's animal control shelter contract to Jeremy Bender of Bender Builders for a cost not to exceed $850,000 with funding from ARPA.

Jeremy Bender, owner-operator of Bender Builders, presented a design-build plan that he said prioritizes affordability and energy efficiency. "I just didn't think that plan fit those needs… it's gonna be affordable to build, it's gonna be affordable to heat and cool," Bender said, explaining his preference for a simpler rectangular footprint, spray-foam insulation and an on-demand boiler paired with in-floor heating in kennel areas.

The proposal includes separate ventilation for cat and dog areas, a sally port for vehicle intake, a dog run with a fenced cement pad, and a plumbing layout with a full-length skirt drain and removable sump to capture hair and debris before it enters the municipal sewer. Commissioners repeatedly praised the design's cost focus and animal-care features; one said the plan was "state of the art" while still meeting the board's price target.

The motion to award the bid was made and seconded; the board approved it on a voice vote. Chair congratulated Bender after the vote and authorized him to proceed pending the normal preconstruction steps and any remaining land-transfer matters.

The board provided no roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote. The contract is funded from ARPA monies set aside previously by the board.