(Cushing, Okla.) At a special meeting of the Cushing Board of Commissioners and the Cushing Municipal Authority Board of Trustees held at the the Public Safety Center in Cushing Tuesday evening, commissioners approved to “move forward” with a proposed new animal shelter by deciding on the location. A committee made up of City Manger Steve Spears, Police Chief Tully Folden, Deputy Chief Chuck Claxton, Animal Control Officer Steve Orton and Commissioner Terry Brannon, considered nine different sites in Cushing before recommending what they considered the top two – a location near the Water Plant on Maitlen Road and an area of the Service Center property adjacent to Moses Street. Commissioners agreed the city-owned property on Maitlen Road would be the best location since it would have city utilities readily available, as well as being a location that is more “public friendly.”
In a power point presentation by Chief Folden, commissioners and citizens in attendance were not only given an overview of what kind of facility would best suit Cushing’s needs, but a history of the existing animal shelter.
The current facility consists of six dog runs, a small area for cat cages and a small euthenasia room. Since its construction in 1980, it has received minimal updates. The most recent update came about after changes in legislation regarding euthenasia techniques. Cushing no longer uses gas, but lethal injection.
Folden pointed out several issues with the current facility:
Not public friendly – difficult to give directions for public to find it
Continual problems with water freezing up or being too hot for the animals
Temperature control – animals cold in the winter and hot in the summer
Not enough space
Orton echoed the space concern, saying with the 72 hour holding period, it is easy to fill up the six runs. This period allows time for the animal to be claimed by its owner or rescued by Cimarron Valley Humane Society before possibly being euthanized. In 2014, approximately 300 animals were picked up by Animal Control. Of those, 16 dogs were euthanized and 37 cats, many of which were feral. The rest were either returned to their owners or rescued by Cimarron Valley Humane Society.
The proposed new facility would consist of 10 dog pens (4’x6′ each) for inside housing; a 9’x10′ cat room with stainless steel cages (isolated from the dogs); euthenasia room; food prep and storage area; lobby/office/shower. It would also include a fenced drive-in enclosure.
Estimated budgeted cost: $200,000.
A member of the audience, Jim Wasson, asked Orton if 10 pens are enough and if the new facility would have space for expansion in the future.
“I think it will serve us well,” Orton said. “It’s almost the same size as Owasso’s animal shelter and that’s a larger community.”
The committee visited several facilities throughout the state to learn what works well and what doesn’t. Owasso was one with many of the features most suited to Cushing.
According to Orton and Spears, its location and type of construction would allow for future expansion, should the need arise.
Commissioner Terry Brannon made a point to thank H.B. and Lenora Webb, who were at the meeting, for all their help sheltering animals over the years.
Commissioners also heard from Mike Starks and Mike Harris regarding a proposed new building for the Electric Distribution Department. The current electric distribution building was a 1930s WPA project, and after 80 years, there is no room for expansion. Consequently, equipment and materials for the department are being stored at several locations around town. Starks gave a breakdown of approximately how much total space was currently being used by the department:
Warehouse space: 5800 sq ft (3 different locations)
Equipment storage: 3500 sq ft (4 different locations)
Truck storage: 6250 sq ft (2 different locations)
Pole yard: 13,860 sq ft
What is being proposed:
Warehouse: 7500 sq ft
Truck/equipment storage: 7500 sq ft
Materials, offices, break room: 4125 sq ft
The proposed new building and yard would allow everything to be available at one secured location. And while commissioners agreed it would be best to build it all at once, as opposed to doing so in stages, the 4.5 acres needed to build such a “complex,” could limit the location possibilites.
The Board commended Starks and Harris on the presentation but asked for a “better managed plan,” (possibily with the input of an architect), as well as specific possible locations. It was agreed the proposal would be revisited at the April monthly meeting.
In other business, Board members were given an information sheet and brief review on the status of FY 2014/2015 Capital Projects. A Budget Workshop was approved to be scheduled in either late March or early April.
Regular monthly meetings of the Cushing Board of Commissioners are held the third Monday of each month. Meetings are open to the public.
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