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JACKSON – The Northampton County Commissioners approved a bid during their regular meeting here Nov. 4 for floor renovations at the county animal shelter. The money for this project will come from a fundraiser held earlier this year.

“The citizens of Northampton County and citizens all over this country were kind enough this year to donate some monies to our animal shelter in the hopes of doing some renovations,” recapped Health Department Director Andy Smith as he spoke before the commissioners.

This past April, Northampton K9 Officer Kevin Byrum started the renovation fundraiser, which exceeding expectations by raising a total of $22,770.93. In June, Byrum and Smith spent a night in the animal shelter to show its conditions and to show their appreciation for the donations.

The funds that were raised will first be used towards the most important improvement: the floors.

“They’re scrubbed twice a day,” Smith explained, noting that the vigorous cleaning methods often result in paint chipping off.

Smith recommended the Board approve the bid from Mason Builders LLC which totaled slightly over $10,000. He noted that the recommended improvements to the floors should last for “quite a few years.”

The bid was unanimously approved by the board after a motion from Commissioner Kelvin Edwards and a second from Commissioner Joyce Buffaloe.

The animal shelter, which is run by the health department, typically receives very limited funding annually from the county. Smith noted those funds usually go to cover rabies vaccinations.

Commissioner Geneva Faulkner pointed out the board hadn’t received any appeals for more county dollars, but they’d be open to giving more if it was requested in the next budget.

“Give us [the Board of Commissioners] an opportunity to support the animal shelter,” Faulkner said.

Commissioner Edwards thanked Smith and his staff for their work running the animal shelter, noting that he’d visited the shelter a few times recently to learn more about it.

While also before the board Monday night, Smith presented a contract with AmeriHealth as well as a list of people to be reappointed to the Health Board. Both items were unanimously approved by the commissioners.