Minutes - 19780306 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

The Chairman stated that should the information be received from the County School System this wekk and presented to Mr. Jones, the Board should be able to approve the proposed program at its March 21, 1977 meeting. The meeting adjourned for lunch. The Board of Commissioners reconvened frpm lunch to discuss Item 16: A report of the bid results for the proposed joint Animal Shelter facility Far copy of bid results, see page 531 of this book. The agenda attachment contained a letter from the Town of Chapel Hill which stated that the total project cost is $202,000. Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill each originally budgeted $55,000 each for con- struction of this facility. Based upon the results of the bid opening, a 50 percent share of total costs would be $101,000. The Chairman reminded the Board that in November, 1977, the architect was asked to submit bids for the project and that the facility would then be locked at with the overall County Capitel Outlay program in mind. Commissioenr Willhoit stated that much of the details regarding the shelter were worked out before he became a member of the Board and that he understoed this was the first step in implementing an animal program in the County. An overall program would be to consider increase in dog taxes, boarding fees, and a fining structure for dogs running loose. He added that he could see no other alternative in solvi.na the animal shelter problem in the County. Chairman Whitted stated he was assuming in November that the Board would have had bids in on the Grady Brown Building and the Jail by this time. Mr. Willhoit added that an increase in dog revenues would pay for the overrun in cost of the facility and would not affect the building program in prpcess. Commissioner Walker stated he had contended from the first mention of an animal shelter that the location should be in Northern Orange County. He continued by stating the cost of construction will continue to increase, and the County is under a commitment to the Town of Chapel Hill. He stated he was opposed to the principle, however, he is willing to compromise in order to get the animal shelter started. Commissioner Gustaveson stated he felt the animal problem could be dealt with best with the Town of Chapel Hill rather than the County opera- ting alone. Commissioner Pinney stated he was not happy with the number of runs designed for the shelter, that 30 runs were not adequate for both Chapel rill and the County. - The Chairman stated the options the County has is to either accept the bids or reject the same. The design can be sent back to the drawing board, or if the project is accepted, there is a possibility the County and Town will be faced shortly with the need for additional runs. He added there does not appear to be any other way of reducing the cost of the pro- ject, however, expansion is possible with this plan. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Willhoit moved to proceed with the project by setting up a committee to devise a mechanism to work on ~?efining a fee schedule for a comprehensive animal program. The Finance Director zeminded the Board of other projects in which -. the County is involved, and which will require allocations from the Con- tingency Fund. Commissioner Willhoit's motion died far lack of a second. The Board discussed further various methods of financing the County's portion of the animal shelter.