The Harker Heights City Council received a presentation during Tuesday’s workshop updating them on the new animal control shelter. The project’s architect, Michael Marrs, said the venture has moved into the schematic design phase of its construction.  

City Manager Steve Carpenter said he sought input from his animal control officers to ensure the facility will address their needs.

“We want to be a lot more active with adopting animals out,” he said. “With our staff so small, it’s hard to be aggressive in doing that.”

Marrs showed the council an artist’s rendering of the building’s facade, which will contain elements from the exteriors of the police station and library/activities center.

The floor plan showed that the 6,400-square foot facility will contain a reception area, conference room, quarantine area, procedure areas, laundry room, two store rooms, office area, viewing room and 31 kennels.

“We tried to keep everything relatively close in,” said Marrs. “We know there will be minimal staff so we wanted to make it easier for them to offer service even when it’s crowded.”

The design drew favorable reviews from the council. Marrs said he hopes to finalize them within the next 30 days and the city should be able to send out bids six weeks after that.

The council also discussed the site plan and what to do with the approximately seven acres that will be left over on the lot.

Options included looking for a veterinarian to lease the land for practice and creating a dog park.

“The best way to get animals adopted out is bring animal-friendly people to the facility,” said Carpenter.