Dog shelter plan rocked by high bids

By RICK MORAIN

For The Jefferson Herald

The long-planned new animal shelter project for Jefferson is in danger of failing.

Project committee chair Don Orris told the Jefferson city council on Nov. 24 that the five bids submitted all came in much higher than anticipated. The low bid of the five is $1,007,000 — about twice as high as the committee had expected.

Orris said that money for the project, all raised from private sources, totals about $634,000. 

But after the architect’s fees and other pre-construction costs are subtracted, the actual amount available for the building itself now stands about $375,000.

Orris had hoped for a low bid of about $500,000.

Orris theorized that several factors are responsible for the unusually high bids. One is that the cost to remove the soil at the project site and then recompact it to a suitable density was much higher than previously projected. In addition, the cost of the air handling equipment was also surprisingly high, he said.

Orris’ committee had initially hoped to raise about $1 million.

When that goal proved to be unmet, Orris had changed the design to a metal building, cut back on the size of the building and changed the type of air handling, as well as other aspects, in order to bring the cost down to the anticipated level of the bids. 

There’s not a lot left that can be cut from the project, he said.

Orris said that one factor in the high bid levels is likely that contractors are currently so busy with work as a result of destruction from this past August’s derecho through the Upper Midwest. Another is the sharply increased cost of steel, lumber and other materials over the past several months.

He said he may be able to raise another $180,000 for the project — but that’s the top possibility, in his opinion.

Orris recommended rebidding the project in January or February to see if the contractor workload has eased by then. But if more funds can’t be found, and if the new bids are not lower than the ones already received, “the project will fail,” he said.

Orris has been working on the animal shelter project for eight years, and raising funds for the past five.

The current animal shelter located adjacent to the city’s wastewater treatment plant at the southwest edge of town falls woefully short of meeting state requirements. At some point, it’s likely that state officials will declare it can no longer house animals. 

When that happens, if a new shelter is not in the works, it’s unknown what recourse the city will have. Transporting dogs and cats to a shelter in another county may be necessary, and that would strain city funds and personnel time.

Following Orris’ presentation, the council deferred action on the bids.

Further discussion is likely at future council meetings.

On other matters, the council approved submitting a plan to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for improvement of the city’s wastewater treatment facility in order to meet the more stringent discharge limits for nitrogen and phosphorus in the plant’s effluent. 

The DNR must approve any improvements.

Its approval is necessary for the city to be eligible for funding from the State Revolving Funds.

The council approved a proposal from KG Roofing of Fort Dodge to replace the roof of City Hall due to storm damage. The cost of the proposal is $26,900. Insurance will cover the entire cost.

The council approved a resolution to authorize a loan of $1,720,000 from the city’s general fund to its tax increment financing (TIF) fund. Each year by Dec. 1 the city certifies to the county auditor the amount of TIF revenue that will be needed the following fiscal year (in this case, the 2021-22 year) to make payments on loans and project financed by TIF revenues.

The amount certified must be sufficient to service debt. The loan will likely be a temporary internal loan to be replaced by outside borrowing the city will consider after Jan. 1.

The council approved Change Order No. 2 for $7,015 and Pay Estimate No. 5 for $45,254.20 for the renovation of the building at 100 E. State St. which formerly housed Angie’s Tea Garden.

The council also accepted completed construction and approved final payments for the Arch Alley improvement project off the north side of the Square, and the Chestnut and Adams Street water main project.

The council placed on second reading the proposed ordinance providing for commercial cardboard collection fees.

The council by resolution approved an agreement to acquire the property at 703 N. Wilson Ave., with no exchange of money. The city’s intention is to remove the house and garage using neighborhood stabilization funds.

The council meets regularly the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 220 N. Chestnut St.