Entities to build animal control complex
"I think anybody who uses this needs to have some budgetary responsibility. -- Jack Clark county auditor"
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

The Lampasas County Commissioners Court voted 5-0 Monday to begin negotiations with the city of Lampasas to share the cost of a new animal control facility.

The impoundment complex, likely to be located near the city's wastewater treatment plant, could cost about $300,000.

Lampasas Veterinary Clinic, which currently provides care for animals impounded in the county, will not offer impoundment service after May 31, County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse said. The clinic is still operating with relief veterinarians, but it is focusing on veterinary medicine.

The facility on Farm-to-Market Road 580 East is available for sale for $250,000, but Sheriff Gordon Morris said the clinic likely would need updates, and, because of nearby residential areas, does not have sufficient room for growth.

"Certainly a lot of times it's cheaper to build a brand-new facility than to fix up an old one," Precinct 3 Commissioner Lowell Ivey added.

Lampasas City Manager Michael Stoldt suggested hiring an architect to draft building plans and make an official estimate of construction costs. Because the project will cost more than $50,000, plans will need an engineer's approval, he added.

Assistant Police Chief Sammy McDonald has visited several neighboring cities to compare facilities and determine what control complex

features Lampasas County will need to include in its complex. The new facility will need at least one employee and perhaps two, Stoldt said, because it will house animals every day.

Preliminary proposals for an interlocal agreement call for the county and the city of Lampasas to split the cost of building and operating a new animal control facility.

County Auditor Jack Clark suggested requiring Kempner and Lometa to pay a portion, as well.

"I think anybody who uses this needs to have some budgetary responsibility," the auditor said.

Other veterinarians in the county have declined to take impounded animals, because they are concerned strays could contaminate clients' animals. As a result, the county will need to send animals to another entity until the new complex in Lampasas is ready to open.

"We're going to have to find a facility," Morris said. "We're kind of under the gun here."

In other business, the Commis- sioners Court voted unanimously to authorize Clark to arrange a lease-purchase agreement at the lowest lease rate for a John Deere 770D motor grader for Precinct 2.

In addition, the court approved requests for bids on gasoline and diesel and for insurance on rolling stock, buildings and contents, general liability and public officials. Insurance bids will be opened April 25 and awarded April 28. Fuel bids -- one for delivery only and one for fuel at filling stations -- will be opened May 9, with a possible award on May 12.

Commissioners also voted 5-0 to ratify the appointment of Debra Adams to fill the full, unexpired term as Hamilton County's representative on the Central Counties Board of Trustees.

In other matters, the court untabled and then retabled discussion of a city easement and removal of a power pole behind the Lampasas County Office Building. Stoldt said he would meet with the architect for the annex expansion project to determine the best place to reposition one or more poles.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Vincent suggested moving an electric pole from the rear alley at the corner of Fourth Street and setting it across from a power box near the annex entrance.

Also, the Commissioners Court agreed to open bids April 24, with a possible award date of April 28, for concrete sidewalls in the culverts on County Road 4630. Federal Emergency Management Agency funds will pay for the project, expected to cost more than $25,000.

In addition, Kempner resident Mary Stephens asked the court to join her in an effort to attract investors to the 12.5-acre proposed county jail site south of Lampasas on U.S. Highway 183. Mrs. Stephens said she is a former stock broker and financial consultant, and she believes a 1,000-seat convention center on the property could attract business and investment to the county.

"That way you'll get money back to pay for the land, and you'll create areas for business," she said.

Mrs. Stephens also suggested office space, a concert stage, a medical facility, retirement condominiums, a bowling alley and mineral bath stalls for race horses.

The Kempner woman said she would prepare brochures to send to potential investors, and she asked for advertising assistance from the county and the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, as well.

"We should have it here, and right now is a good time to do it," she said of building a complex.

In other business, Vincent asked the court to consider spending $1,500- $2,000 in next year's budget for Global Positioning System software, along with a laptop computer and card reader. The equipment would allow commissioners to store GPS coordinates, needed for FEMA grants, of flood-damaged culverts and sections of roads.

The county used grant funds a few years ago to purchase a pocket computer with a GPS attachment for about $15,000, Vincent said. He and Ivey, however, said the equipment is hard to understand, works slowly and loses data when the system is not charged.

The court did not take action on the proposal.

Also, despite rain last week, Boultinghouse announced he does not plan to rescind the countywide outdoor burn ban any time soon.

"I have seen fires burn across mud as long as there's dry grass on top," he said.

The judge warned in particular against trying to burn piles of brush, as logs at the bottom can smolder for days and spark grass fires.