Kerr County breaks ground on animal control facility

Under gray skies on Friday, Feb. 14, ceremonial shovels were lined up and ground was broken on the new Kerr County Animal Services facility, a bond-approved center that will be located off Spur 100 in Kerrville.

Leading the ceremony was Kerr County Commissioner (Pct. 3) Jeff Holt, who serves as the liaison official to Kerr County Animal Services. Also participating in the ceremonial turning of soil were: Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Kerr County Commissioner (Pct. 1) Tom Jones, Kerr County Commissioner (Pct. 4) Don Harris, KCAS Director Reagan Givens, Kerrville Pets Alive's Karen Guerrerio, architect Peter Lewis, as well as other leaders from the county's Capital Improvement Plan committee (who were instrumental in the passing of the bond issue), J.K. Bernhard Construction Company and others.

Commissioner Holt offered a few remarks about the project, which is expected to open this fall. He also paid tribute to many folks who helped bring the day to fruition, not the least of which was his predecessor, former Kerr County Commissioner (Pct. 3) Jonathan Letz.

Letz, who was unable to attend Friday's event, retired from the county at the end of 2024 after serving the citizens for 28 years. He was the previous liaison to animal control and has worked on many major county projects, including the East Kerr County Sewer Project in Center Point, and this new KCAS facility. Letz will continue to see through his work on the facility, but now in a sub-contractor capacity working with architect Peter Lewis.

Below at left, Brenda Hughes, a member of the Kerr County CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) committee talks with Kerr County Commissioner (Pct. 3) Jeff Holt, right, about all the work that went into the $5.75 million bond issue that was approved by local voters in the fall of 2022 by a majority of 55% of votes.

The new facility was needed because the current facility is deteriorating, undersized and not purpose built; the requirements for a safe, sanitary, humane facility are not able to be met, despite efforts from the staff; the current facility lacks climate controlled storage to prevent food and medical supply spoilage and the storage space for cages, traps and department files is lacking; the current building is not ADA compliant for disabled citizens and more.