The chairman of the Vermilion County Board told members of the Board’s Property Committee last evening (Monday) that he thinks the county will get a new animal shelter. Steve Miller added…
{AUDIO: “I have been involved in some discussions with regard to that, which I’m not at liberty to publically discuss. But, that’s why I am not interested in spending time with Paw A Day because I think we’re going to have a better alternative available – with much less cost to the county.”}
The owners of Paw A Day Inn and Suites, Tony and Darla Piatt, offered earlier to sell their property to the county for $2.8 million dollars so it could replace the existing shelter on the Catlin-Tilton Road.
Miller opposes the Paw A Day offer….
{AUDIO: “I think the alternative that I am pursuing in earnest is going to be better for the public, the animals, our employees, and most importantly – our taxpayers.”}
County Board member Kevin Green is frustrated that Miller is not giving he and other board members additional information….
{Green: “I just wish, I know you say it’s a secret, but I wish we knew more about it.”
Miller: “I can understand your curiousity about it, and your”
Green: “Frustration.”
Miller: “And frustration. And the only thing that I can say is that I understand the frustration, but I am constrained by the fact that it’s in a very delicate posture at this particular point, and I don’t want public curiosity and sentiment upsetting the apple cart.”
And County Board Chairman (Steve) Miller added it will probably be months – not weeks – before he is able to release more regarding the behind-the-scenes discussions on the animal shelter.
Also during their meeting, members of the County Board Property Committee approved an agreement with Blaine Meadows Performance Services regarding tuckpointing at the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse, Joseph G. Cannon Building, and county maintenance building on Hazel Street.
Meadows explained the agreement….
Meadows: “This would just cover the architectural, engineering and bid management services to get you a final”
County Board Chairman Steve Miller: “Get us a contractor.”
Meadows: “Right. And we would have a second contract that we would put in front of the board to cover the performance assurance, construction management and the labor piece of it.”}
Meadows said local contractors will be among those invited to bid on the work. Another project that is yet to be awarded is work on the elevator at the Joseph G. Cannon Building. “The elevator is kind of a big deal,’’ said committee chairman Mark Steinbaugh. He notes there is lots of business regarding the public on the third floor of the building because that is where the assessors office and others are located.
