Commission marks MacIntosh fire-suppression and animal-shelter work shovel-ready, prunes non-county ICIP projects

Grants staff told commissioners the county's Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Plan contained outdated or misleading project titles and budgets; commissioners directed edits to be returned by July 1. The MacIntosh fire station water-suppression project — involving a 30,000-gallon tank and sprinkler work — was reviewed with funding already appropriated (about $375,000) plus additional reauthorizations and a tank quote; commissioners agreed to mark it "Shovel Ready - YES" and move toward design and contracting.

Commissioners also agreed to retitle the regional animal shelter entry to "Torrance County Animal Shelter - Plan, Design, and Construct Improvements" and mark it shovel-ready because land and needs are clearly identified. Conversely, the board directed removal of projects that the county does not own (Duran Schoolhouse and Arthur Park/pool) from the ICIP, consistent with DFA guidance against listing non-county assets under the county's ICIP unless the county is fiscal agent or owner. Staff were instructed to correct descriptions, budgets and remove problematic wording by the July 1 ICIP submission deadline.