By Wade Warren

SDN Managing Editor

Snyder city council voted unanimously Monday night to purchase the former Scurry County Veterinary Clinic with plans for the city to operate its own animal shelter.

The building, located on Brick Plant road just south of 37th Street, will be purchased from Jerry Early for $50,000 and closing costs, and it is estimated it will take another $30,000-plus to update the facility and to make changes to meet state guidelines.

The action came after about a 30-minute executive session and a brief report at the beginning of the meeting from the animal shelter committee.

Presently, the city contracts with West Texas Animal Clinic for shelter services at a minimum cost of $18,600 annually.

Money for the entire shelter project was not budgeted for this fiscal year and Jeanne Johnson, the city’s finance director, said last night that the work might have to be spread out over two budget periods.

The city’s budget begins Oct. 1 each year.

Committee member Ron Shaw, in recommending the purchase, said it was the most cost-effective of any of the proposals considered.

In other action items last night, the council approved calling the general election for May 15, and accepted the resignation of Place 3 councilman James Ashley.

All four places will be on the ballot to include those presently served by Vernest Tippens, Stephanie Ducheneaux, Ron Shaw and the district formerly represented by Ashley.

Mayor Francene Noah presided in the 1˝-hour meeting and council members present were Tippens, Ducheneaux, Shaw, Terry Martin and David Harrell.