A cost estimate for a new animal shelter may be available by the end of the month.
Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer told the county supervisors during his monthly update Monday that the steering committee has approved preliminary sketches and forwarded them to architects Waggoner and Wineinger in Mason City. The Jefferson city council and the county supervisors agreed this past summer to share to cost of the firm’s services in arriving at a project cost.
Palmer said he expects a cost estimate will be available soon. Steering committee member Dave Sloan told the city council Tuesday it would be “a couple of weeks.”
Don Orris will spearhead the fundraising effort after the cost is known.
The city is now in the process of updating its written agreement with P.A.W.S. for its work at the current shelter, Palmer said. The city and the county have a 28E agreement in place for current funding.
Work on a new 28E agreement between the county and the city for funding operation of the shelter after it is built is ongoing. Discussions are continuing of which entity should own the shelter and whether a fulltime or part-time animal control officer is needed.
The need for a new shelter is undisputed. Greene County Development Corporation has donated a parcel north of the St Joseph Cemetery for the shelter.
