Animal Care Facility Bid Awarded

TYLER — Tyler’s City Council Wednesday awarded the construction contract for the city’s planned animal care facility to TMV, LLC. According to a city news release, the firm was the lowest and most qualified bidder. Property at 4218 Chandler Highway was purchased in late 2013 for a permanent, city-owned animal care facility. The property included ten acres of land and an 18,165-square-foot building. An architectural firm and subcontractor were contracted to assess needs and use, and to design the renovation. In March 2014, the City Council created a seven member Animal Care Advisory Board to make recommendations to the City Council and City staff.

Since the termination of the contract with Jacksonville’s troubled Klein Animal Shelter, the city has been using a temporary holding facility. Officials say the new facility will be renovated in three phases to accommodate animal control, a holding facility, and adoptions, with other possible future uses. Phase one of the renovation will encompass work on 15,006 square feet of the total square footage. Officials say that will enable the animal shelter to accommodate a total of 73 dogs, 65 or more cats, and an additional adoption visitation room.