At the Vermilion County Property Committee Meeting, the Animal Shelter building was discussed as well as the concern some Board members had with the process involved in decision making on the County Board. It revolved around the offer by Tony Piatt to sell his facility Paw-a-Day Inn and Suites to the County to replace the Animal Shelter and a secret option neither Property Chair Mark Steinbaugh nor County Board Chair Steve Miller were willing to discuss. No details were provided about the secret option, and Steve Miller said information might be forthcoming ina couple weeks.
That however did not set well with all Board members including Kevin Green who asked for an executive session or closed private session to inform the committee but was denied that opportunity by Committee Chair Mark Steinbaugh. Other Board members both on and off the Committee expressed concern for decisions being made without full Board involvement, and a member of the public made the same comment.
Tony Piatt offered his facility with an opening offer of $2.8 million dollars. The site comprises 4 acres and has multiple buildings and indoor and outdoor kennel facilities. Built in 2010, the building is more modern and has options that cut the staff and time to feed animals. Several Board members, including Becky Stark had taken a tour of the facility and spoke highly of it. At the end, County Chair Steve Miller said he was not in favor of it, due to the cost. He also said there was another option he was not at liberty to discuss but would in due course.
The County also hired Blaine Meadows of Performance Services as construction manager of work to be done at the Courthouse and Cannon Building. However, after the vote, Board member Nancy O’Kane, not on the Property Committee but speaking as a Board member, questioned the compliance with the Open Meetings Act since the Agenda referred to a simple “discussion” and not a vote. Chair of the full Board Steve Miller agreed and Committee Chair Mark Steinbaugh said the action could be rescinded, but no actual recession was made and the vote appeared to stand.
When asked later why the County did not bid out the construction manager’s job to other more local companies, Miller said he had considered that but felt this was a professional service not suitable for bidding and Mr. Meadows had developed a good relationship with the County.
A Health and Education Committee Meeting on Wednesday will take up a further conversation about the Animal Shelter. WITY will have more after that meeting.