Republic grants bid for new animal shelter, details emerge

Republic City Council, on a 5-0 vote, awarded a bid to build the new city animal shelter to Marion Company at a cost of $713,122. The company’s original bid, which was the lowest of four submitted, originally came in at $733,400 but was lowered after the city realized several savings opportunities, and the company agreed.
The project will be paid for from revenue generated from a 1/4 cent capital improvements sales tax passed by voters in August of 2017. And per the bid, the project will be completed by the Neosho-based company in 155 days from the beginning.
A blueprint of the extensive project was circulated at the Oct. 15 Republic City Council meeting where the vote was passed. The site, located on Highway 174 in west Republic, will include 20 indoor pens, and 20 covered outdoor pens. The facility will also have interaction rooms, bathrooms, an office, an exam room, and a separate cat and dog observation room. The building will also include space for retail sales of animal necessities.
The project architect is GHN.
Original bids:
Bales Construction - $798,800 (200 days to complete)
Hamby Construction - $810,000 (190 days to complete)
Marion Company - $733,400 (155 days to complete)
RE Smith Construction - $746,000 (150 days to complete)
Other business...
Also during the meeting, the board, in the absence of members John Jones, Charlie Brashers and Matt Russell, voted to:
- Enter into an agreement with Backwoods Golf for water line improvements;
- Execute an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for access to motor vehicle crash data;
- Enter an agreement for IT support services.