Also learns of sale of former DrugTown building
It’s taken longer than three years, but a new animal shelter is now close to becoming a reality.
The Jefferson city council at its regular meeting Oct. 26 approved a contract with Jensen Builders to construct an animal shelter. Jensen’s base bid, at $894,900, was the low bid of three on the 3,000-square foot building. The council also accepted a $12,500 alternate for epoxy flooring and base.
Palmer said people have been very generous with donations in the last several weeks, but there is still a shortfall of more than $7,000. “We want to encourage people to keep donating,” he said.
The city has $678,850 available cash, and another $82,950 in pledges. The council approved $400,000 in city funds for the project, for a total of $1,161,800. The city has spent $57,015 to date. Adding the construction base bid, the epoxy alternate, and $205,000 in estimated remaining expense shows expenses $7,615 over available funding.
The contract is for a 3,000-square-foot building with 11 dog kennels and room for 33 cats.
According to Palmer and city engineer Jim Leiding, construction will most likely begin as soon as possible in the spring.
The council set a public hearing at the Nov. 9 meeting on the proposed sale of property at 1006 N. Walnut St. The sales agreement with the potential buyer will set a 12-month deadline for cleanup of trash and the outside of the site, and an 18-month deadline for reconstruction of the house.
Denny Hammen, park and recreation director, reported to the council that the park and recreation board will likely ask at the Nov. 9 meeting for funding for a study of remodeling the bath house at the municipal pool to include family restrooms. He has talked with architect Mark Kroema, who did the design work on the animal shelter, about an interior remodel that would put family restrooms on both the men’s and women’s sides of the bath house. He hopes to have Kroema present at the Nov. 9 meeting.
Hammen also updated the council on the disc golf course at Daubendiek Park. Construction is complete except for signage, and disc golfers from many places have come to play the course. Funding came from hole sponsorships and a Greene County Community Foundation grant, with the Jefferson Kiwanis Club providing volunteer labor.
During the open forum portion of the meeting, Nikki Uebel confirmed that she recently purchased the former DrugTown/Hy-Vee building on the corner of Wilson Ave and Lincoln Way. Uebel, a local banker and realtor, is a member of Corner View Properties LLC.
With Uebel was Megan Ball, one of three owners of Midwest Behavioral Health LLC, which plans to lease the main floor of the building. Midwest Behavioral Health is new to Jefferson and the county. The group provides substance abuse treatment, and hopes to expand to serve persons with dual diagnoses, and provide resources to help clients continue their education and become active citizens in their communities. “We look forward to being a resource to our community,” Ball said.
The council applauded Uebel’s announcement.
Uebel told GreeneCountyNewsOnline Corner View Properties has plans for up to three separate ventures. The first steps are to renovate the former retail space as clinical office space; that work has begun. The second floor apartments will also be renovated. Work on the exterior of the building will follow work on the interior.
“It’s really excited for me to revitalize an area of our downtown that has just been neglected. This building in particular has so much potential and I hope wot work with some of the great local resources we have to really improve it,” Uebel said. “I love our downtown and the support and momentum behind it, and hope to add to it.”
The building has been vacant since HyVee opened its new location on W. Washington St early in 2015.
