Tazewell County is getting a much-needed new animal control building.
The county board on Wednesday approved a design-build proposal by Peoria-based PJ Hoerr, which beat out three other prospective vendors.
Like the current animal control facility, the new building will be at the county's Tremont campus, located off Illinois Route 9.
The building will be constructed starting this summer along the ring road near the EMA building on the campus and should be completed by January.
Cost of the building is an estimated $3.75 million.
County Board Chairman Brett Grimm said the county got a good deal.
"This is a frugal, well thought-out building," he said.
He compared the proposed 9,300-square-foot building with an 11,000-square-foot animal control facility that is being built by McLean County for $7 million.
A ground-breaking for the McLean County building, which is being paid for partially by $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, was done last summer. It will open next year.
Each county's current animal control facility, built in the early 1990's, is about 5,500 square feet.
Here are the problems with the current Tazewell County animal control building, according to county officials.
- Inadequate space for the animal control team.
- Poor ventilation because the HVAC system circulates the same air throughout the facility.
- The building doesn't meet current standards regarding space in kennels, separation between kennels, and a lack of quarantine areas.
- Kennels that need to be replaced.
- There's no place for veterinarian services.
- There are no adoption rooms.
The new Tazewell County facility will have quarantine rooms, a veterinarian medical room, pet adoption areas, dog kennels with interior and exterior access, and a fenced unloading area.
Tazewell County officials praised PJ Hoerr's proposal for several reasons.
They said it was the only proposal that suggested a pre-engineered metal building, which can stand up to the daily power washings that are needed in the dog kennel areas, and it has a robust HVAC system that actually will be three separate systems (employee areas, quarantined animals and non-quarantined areas).
Also, the proposal has concrete masonry walls in the animal confinement areas, which are appropriate for cleaning, durability, and safety for the animals during bad weather events.
Tazewell County's current animal control facility will continue to be used until the new building opens. It's unclear what will happen with the current building after it's no longer open.
Libby Aeschleman, the Tazewell County Animal Control director, did the original proposed layout for the new facility.
Board member Joe Woodrow cast the lone no vote for PJ Hoerr's proposal. He said the cost was too high compared to the proposals.
Solar farm approved 'under duress'
Special uses for a proposed five-megawatt commercial solar farm on an approximately 30-acre parcel on the south side of Veterans Drive, about one-quarter-mile west of the intersection of Veterans and 14th Street near Pekin, were approved 12-7 on Wednesday by the board.
"This is being approved under duress. We have no choice," said board member Eric Stahl, who voted for the special uses in an agricultural preservation district.
State law prevents municipalities from rejecting a special use for a solar farm that meets all legal requirements.
Impound/storage building to get fencing, cameras and an alarm system
Fencing, cameras and an alarm system for the Tazewell County Sheriff's Department's new impound/storage building on the county's Tremont campus were approved unanimously Wednesday by the board.
"These aren't new items. We planned to have them from the beginning," said Sheriff Jeff Lower. "We needed to hold off on them because we had unforeseen building construction costs."
Low bidder FencePeoria will install a 150-linear-foot galvanized chain link fence with eight-foot-tall barbed wire fencing at a cost of $15,525.
Low bidder Designed Solutions of Pekin will install and provide camera equipment for $7,340.
Low bidder Oberlander Alarm Systems of Peoria will install and provide the alarm system for an estimated $1,100.
Sheriff's Department fees increase for the first time in about 20 years
These items also were approved unanimously Wednesday by the board:
- Increases in fees charged by the Tazewell County Sheriff's Department after recommendations were made in a fee study. Some of the fees that will increase have not been changed for about 20 years, while costs have tripled, according to Lower. The new fees will go into effect June 1.
- The rehiring of veterinarians at Rescued Heart Animal Hospital in Pekin as deputy administrators for Tazewell County Animal Control. Rescued Heart's fees for services include $200 for shelter exams, $100 and $75 for sterilization surgery for female and male dogs, respectively, and $75 and $50 for female and male cats, respectively. Rescued Heart will provide diagnostics, procedures and emergency services at a 25% discount.
- The award of a contract to low bidder R.A. Cullinan & Son of Tremont for $2.4 million for hot mix asphalt, milling and resurfacing at several locations.
- The award of a contact to low bidder Illinois Civil Contractors of East Peoria for $450,806 for a box culvert replacement on Robinson Road over a tributary to Mud Creek.
- The award of a contract to low bidder R.A. Cullinan for $90,464 for hot mix asphalt shoulder widening on Hopedale Road.
- The award of a contract to low bidder Beniach Construction of Tuscola for $59,920 for the pulverization of Bass Road in Spring Lake.
- A quarterly payment of $18,750 to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.
Tazewell County residents reappointed to boards
The board unanimously approved these reappointments Wednesday:
- Lori Prater of Washington to the Northern Tazewell Fire Department Board for a two-year term.
- Kathy Perhay of Washington to the Northern Tazewell Fire Protection District Board for a three-year term.
- Brad Brooks of East Peoria to the East Peoria Sanitary District Board for a three-year term.
- Samantha Severns of Creve Coeur to the Greater Creve Coeur Sanitary District Board for a three-year term.
- Wilbert Grimm of Pekin to the Lake Arlann Drainage District Board for a two-year term.
- Jimmy Stevens of East Peoria and John Bisanz of Washington to the Board of Review for two-year terms.
Nic Maquet of Pekin was appointed to the Lake Arlann Drainage District Board for a term that expires Aug. 31.
