Durant City Council is moving ahead with plans for a new animal shelter and they have received donations from the public.
During a recent meeting, council members approved a plan for architecture and engineering from Theorem LLC in the amount of $144,664.07. Mayor Martin Tucker was not present for the meeting but wrote a letter of support for the project. Vice Mayor Mike Simulescu voted no. During a subsequent meeting, all council members except Simulescu approved the contract for professional services from Theorem for the project.
The total cost of the project is $1,676,006.07 and the votes during the meetings were only for architectural designs and engineering, not the entire project.
Bobby and Melissa Story presented a check from a fundraiser for the project.
“We are trying to encourage people to get involved and help us get this animal shelter built here in Durant,” Mr. Story said. It’s much needed. It’s been needed for many, many years.”
Story said $750 was raised and they contributed more for a total of $2,000. They are encouraging other businesses and organizations to become involved.
Stephanie Gardner spoke at the meeting and she expressed support for the project.
“The Storys have been longtime friends and clients of mine,” Gardner said. “We help with some of their marketing and community projects and when they had the idea to kind of get behind and try to start raising money for the animal shelter, I was so excited about it.”
Gardner said they are moving for- ward to kick start the animal shelter fundraising campaign and the goal is to raise $500,000.
“We’re really proud for this donation to be the first little drop in the bucket for that fundraising campaign,” Gardner said.
There are QR codes that customers at the Auto Spa locations can scan to make donations.
“So, it’s not just a one-time thing and we’re then going to be leading the charge and trying to reach out to other fellow businesses and community members who are passionate about building a new animal shelter and challenge them also to start donating to this fundraiser,” Gardner said. “This started back in the winter and we did a blanket and food drive as well. So, a lot of community members not only donated monetarily but came by our locations at both the Auto Spa and Texoma Pit Stop and dropped off blankets, dog food, things like that.”
Shane Knight, owner of Theorem, said the animal shelter would be 5,000 square feet that will include a lobby for the public, administration space, an adoption center and kennels for dogs and cats.
City manager Pam Polk said the city currently has three animal control officers and that the department is now under the police department. Plans for now would be to add one more animal control officer for the facility.
Simulescu said many places have non-profit organizations that operate an animal shelter and he asked if that was the plan for Durant. Polk said that is something the city can look at.
Polk said she doesn’t even call the current facility a shelter.
“It’s actually deplorable,” she said. “It’s a safety and health concern for anybody that goes out there. I was shocked when I moved here and saw what it looked like.”
Council member Lauran Fuller said if there is a plan, it will give the community a reason to be a part of the project.
“They’re not going to step up with what we currently have,” Fuller said. “Let’s give them a reason to join us.”
Story spoke to the council again and he said, “We need get a plan to build toward a solution. I encourage you, let’s get the ball rolling.”
In other agenda items, Simulescu presented a proclamation from the city for the Calvary Baptist Church Centennial Celebration. The church was organized in April 1925 by a group of Durant residents who had a growing concern for the religious life in the community.
There were 35 charter members and Rev. W.P. Weeks was the first pastor. He led a building program completed in 1929 on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Louisiana Street. In 1949, a new brick worship center was constructed that would seat about 400 people. When the Loaves and Fishes food bank closed in 2012, Calvary Baptist started Calvary Cares Food Pantry and early 2024, the congregation partnered with the Garcia family to provide a Hispanic ministry.
Simulescu proclaimed April 26 and 27 as Calvary Baptist Church Centennial Anniversary Celebration Weekend in the City of Durant.
During last week’s meeting, the council appointed Tucker to continue serving as mayor and Simulescu as vice mayor. Tucker swore in council members Humphrey Miller and Lauran Fuller, who were unopposed in their reelection bids.
During the April 8 council meeting, the following employees received service awards:
Five years
Mark Bellamy (Landfill) Johnathan Gibson (Solid Waste) Rebecca Pierce (PW Admin) Thomas Robertson (Police)
Ten Years
Joshua Mullins (Police) Jeffrey Rush (Fire)
Fifteen Years
Richard Ezell (Emergency Management) Cynthia Price (Administration)
Twenty Years
Russell Harkey (Police)
