KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The City of Independence Animal Shelter got some good news Tuesday afternoon. The shelter will receive funds to fix the facility, which currently cares for 97 dogs, and 35 cats and is run by 15 city staff employees.
The facility needs repairs to its HVAC system, doors to rooms, fire suppression system, and the outdoor turf that pets use to relieve themselves.
The building is owned by Jackson County, and the necessary maintenance has been needed for a while now according to Independence City Councilman District 1 Councilman John Perkins.
“It’s a weird problem, right?” Perkins said. “So since we don’t own the building, in theory, the county can lock up the building tomorrow, and then we would have no access to the facility, and thereby the amount of money and facility maintenance that we have put into the building would be for nothing.”
A spokesman from Jackson County Executive Frank White’s office issued a statement after KCTV 5 inquired about the availability of American Rescue Plan Act Funds that Independence requested a year ago.
“In response to your inquiry, the County spends over $400,000 a year on debt service for the building, which will continue for another 10 years. In addition, the County has budgeted $200,000 for repairs to the building in the current year and another $100,000 in next year’s budget.
“The City of Independence is the only city that receives funding for animal control services. In exchange, the City of Independence provides animal control services in unincorporated Jackson County that averages less than 200 animals per year.” The City of Independence stated in response to the County’s announcement to KCTV5’s inquiry.
“The City of Independence appreciates the County’s commitment to budgeting for facility repairs and is dedicated to working together to address current needs and improve conditions.
“We are pleased to learn about the County’s budget allocation this year, including funding for HVAC repairs, and look forward to continued collaboration to address other essential facility needs, such as door closers, fire suppression, and turf maintenance.
Our shared goal is to create a safe and sanitary environment for our pet population in a way that respects our commitment to fiscal responsibility for the taxpayers of both Independence and Jackson County.”
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