With the closing of The Animal Shelter of Texas County, Houston city government is making plans to reopen its dog pound off Lone Star Drive.
Discussion came Monday night during a meeting of the Houston City Council. The shelter closed recently after it said it had a pile of debt and no means to pay it or the day-to-day operation on East Highway 17. The news became a contentious subject with a primarily new board replacing old members and finger-pointing as to who was to blame.
City staff is working to follow state procedures in reopening the pound, Joe Kirkman, head of the public grounds department, reported. City Administrator Larry Sutton said required licensing will be obtained, facilities reopened to standards and fees researched. The last regulations on the books date to 1960.
No date has been set to reopen it.
In other matters, members:
—Are considering the steps it will follow as it moves toward hiring an economic development director to replace Ron Reed, who left the city’s payroll last month. An economic development committee comprised of council members will meet and seek input from the full council. Feedback from members of the Houston Development Co. and Industrial Development Authority of Houston will be solicited. Don Romines, an HDC member, spoke about the need to fill the post. He was joined by R.E. “Eddie” Smith, another HDC board member.
Currently three buildings require marketing in the city: An empty HDC building on Spruce Street, an IDA-owned structure that briefly housed a dairy manufacturer at the Houston Industrial Park on West Highway 17 and a manufacturing building on South Sam Houston Blvd. that is occupied by GAMO, which is leaving for Arkansas by the end of the year as part of a site consolidation.
A job description will be developed, and salary guidelines established.
—Donated $200 to Celebration for Life, an organization that sponsors post-graduation and post-prom activities at Houston High School.
—Received an update on the status of private structures set for repair or demolition on a list developed by the council. Two remain on Forrest Drive, and improvements are under way. Monthly status reports are being generated.