Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

HAMILTON — Delays continue to plague construction of the Butler County animal shelter. Now, it's a permitting hang-up.

Officials said construction of the facility could start next week, nearly two years after voters approved a levy to build a new, $3.4 million facility off Princeton Road.

Bill Robinson, a local business owner and animal lover who successfully campaigned in 2006 for the levy, asked Hamilton City Council Wednesday night, Sept. 24, — "What's the hold up?"

"Let's cut the red tape and get this project finished," Robinson said.

Hamilton Planning Director Teri Whitmore said the city received the required drawings Sept. 17 for a partial permit, though bids for the project were submitted in June. Whitmore said she is working on a partial permit with a full building permit to follow. This could cost Butler County, which is responsible for the project, more than $8,000.

Permit wrangling has been going on for months, according to architect Robert Treadon.

But much of this is Treadon's fault, some said. He also was roundly blamed for initial delays in the project because his designs came in millions of dollars over budget.

"I haven't been real happy with our architect and what services we've gotten so far," said County Commission President Charles Furmon. "In my view, he was given X amount of money we wanted to build with and came back with the Taj Mahal. The city has been pretty good at trying to expedite it at our request, so we should see some progress out there in the near future."

Treadon said it took three and a half months to get permits from the city of Hamilton. During that time, the county was working with the civil engineering firm — Lorenz Williams Clinton — and Treadon and his firm are not to blame, he said.

Furmon said the further delays are unacceptable. "It's not unusual for them to have to resubmit drawings, but I think this has been dragged on far too long," he said. "I think it's bureaucracy at its worst."

Construction of the building's foundation is expected to begin next week.