Montcalm County OKs $279,052 Animal Control Addition after Funding Shift

The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners voted to accept JBS' contracting bid for an Animal Control building addition not to exceed $279,052. The funding plan as approved places $100,000 from the Animal Control Donations Fund and $105,000 from Revenue Sharing (required to be used for public safety) toward the project, with the remaining $74,052 coming from the General Fund. The Board removed a prior requirement that Animal Control repay any portion of the over‑budget cost.

Maintenance Director Doug Gietzen said the lowest bid came back at $279,052 and that he had produced a downsized hand‑drawn sketch to reduce cost. Animal Control Director Autumn Pumford told the Board that additional space is needed for intake, transport and procedures and that she could "make it work" with additional square footage. Commissioner Johnston cautioned against underbuilding and urged doing the project right the first time. The motion to accept the bid, as amended, passed on a roll call vote: Ayes — Commissioners Johnston, Mahar, Murray, Johnson, Petersen and Carr; Nay — Commissioner Alexander.