Heights chooses shelter builder
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 05:25 AM
By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily HeraldHARKER HEIGHTS – The City Council chose on Tuesday to negotiate a contract with JL Construction to build the city's new animal shelter.
JL Construction scored the highest amount of points in the sealed proposal process, Police Chief Mike Gentry said to the City Council.
The sealed proposal process consists of a point system that relies mostly on the proposed cost of the project, but also several other criteria. JL Construction's total estimated cost was about $1.45 million.
City Manager Steve Carpenter will start the negotiations in the upcoming weeks with JL Construction and hopes to have construction of the new shelter under way in January or February, he said.
The contract will be brought back to the City Council for a final approval, Gentry said.
The new animal shelter will replace the facility on Harley Drive behind the old police station. It will be built on the corner of Clore Road and Indian Trail, and it will more than double the number of dog kennels and cat cages, feature a larger quarantine area and accommodate more staff.
Other discussion involved the project's add alternates – items listed in the proposal that are optional.
The City Council questioned whether all the project's add alternates such as a parking lot expansion and the incinerator, would be part of the contract.
The add alternates will be part of the negotiating tools, Gentry said. In order to include some of the items in the facility, they would have to be done during construction. But other additions, such more parking spaces, could be done after construction, Gentry said.
The City Council also:
Rezoned a property at 921 Maplewood Drive from a single-family dwelling district to two-family dwelling district.
Rezoned a property at 923 Maplewood Drive from a single-family dwelling district to two-family dwelling district.
Authorized the city manager to pursue Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding.
Heard a presentation on the 2010 U.S. Census.
Heard an update on the city's capital improvement projects.
Received the city's crime rate report.
Discussed a lawsuit related to Nolanville's population count and the size of Nolanville's extraterritorial jurisdiction with the city's attorney in a 30-minute closed meeting.
Contact Mason W. Canales at
mcanales@kdhnews.com (254) 501-7554.