Bidding opens for animal shelter

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SIDNEY — Shelby County commissioners voted Tuesday, May 15, to advertise for bids for construction of a new animal shelter.

The Shelby County Animal Rescue Foundation, known as SCARF, has been raising money for the Bob Sargeant and Family Shelby County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center since late 2015. It announced during the commission meeting that it is now $49,000 from its $2,400,000 goal. A ceremonial groundbreaking took place at the site, along Gearhart Road, Nov. 17, 2017.

Tuesday, architects Freytag & Associates presented the working drawings for the facility to the commissioners, SCARF representatives Joe and Nicole Laber, Dog Warden Kelli Ward and lead donor Bob Sargeant.

“We’re here to seek authorization to bid on the animal shelter,” Dan Freytag said. He and project manager Amy Schwieterman then described what the drawings illustrated: a 7,998-square-foot building that will have 40 dog kennels with outdoor runs, seven of which will be in an isolation unit; a glassed-in cat condo; an isolation cat room; an animal receiving and exam room; a welcome center and reception area; a kitchenette; a laundry; staff and volunteer locker rooms; a dog wash; animal food storage and preparation areas; a garage and a community outreach center/meeting room.

The facility will have two heating/cooling units, a large one for the animal areas and a smaller one for the office areas.

“So we won’t have to run the big one and be heating or cooling the office areas when no one’s there,” Freytag said.

The meeting room will seat 60 people and have an entrance separate from the main entrance to the building.

There will be pressure wash stations situated to make kennel cleaning efficient.

Schwieterman provided the architects’ opinion of probable costs, which will be provided to potential bidders.

Site work is estimated to cost $333,150; general construction, $1,886,200; design and professional fees, $172,887; shelter planner’s fee, $30,000; plan approval review and printing, $7,500; and nonconstruction costs, such as utility installation fees, $18,885. There is an $80,650 contingency allowance making the total an estimate of $2,529,272. Not included in the estimate are communications equipment and furniture.

SCARF’s fundraising goal of $2,400,000 has not changed, Joe Laber said. The organization hopes to make up the difference in the costs with in-kind donations of some equipment and materials.

Freytag proposed that advertising for bids be placed for May 18 and May 25, that a mandatory pre-bid meeting take place May 29 and that bids be opened by the commissioners, June 12.

Commissioner Bob Guillozet moved to set the dates as proposed. Commissioner Tony Bornhorst seconded the motion and both voted to approve it. Commissioner Julie Ehemann, who sits on the SCARF board, abstained from the vote.

“I want to say, ‘Thank you,’ to the entire SCARF organization and persons who made this happen,” Bornhorst said. “It’s a great day in Shelby County.”

“Thank you to the entire community for supporting this,” Ehemann added.

Bob Sargeant, of Sidney, looks over plans for the animal shelter that will be named for him and his family, Tuesday, May 15, in the chambers of the Shelby County commissioners in Sidney.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2018/05/web1_Sargeant-with-plans.jpgBob Sargeant, of Sidney, looks over plans for the animal shelter that will be named for him and his family, Tuesday, May 15, in the chambers of the Shelby County commissioners in Sidney.

By Patricia Ann Speelman

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4824.

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