DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Executive Russ Pry wants the county’s new animal control facility to be the first “green” building owned by the county.

Pry is in negotiations for property at 250 Opportunity Parkway for the new location of the shelter. The property features an existing building, and plans discussed during Summit County Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting Feb. 4 call for the building to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified.

LEED is a nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Legislation discussed in committee concerned a change order with DLZ Ohio for the design of the facility. In 2007, Council adopted legislation approving a contract with DLZ for $270,000 for design services, and the change order adds an additional $60,000.

The committee recommended approval of the legislation but not without some discussion.

Councilman Tim Crawford (D-District 7) asked if the change order was premature since the county has yet to purchase the new property.

“Isn’t this like putting the cart before the horse?” he asked. “Let the executive go into negotiations before we start looking at designs.”

Jason Dodson, an attorney with Pry’s office, said Pry plans to proceed on the purchase. Having the design contract approved would allow the architects to get started as soon as the purchase is completed, he added.

Council President Nick Kostandaras (D-District 1) asked if the cost for design services is for the entire building or just the portion that will be used for animal control. The building that is being considered is larger than what animal control needs.

Councilwoman Ilene Shapiro (D-at large), who has been involved in the site selection process, said the contract would only apply to the portion of the building that is to be used for animal control.

Should the project proceed with the LEED certification, it would be the third building in the county to have the designation. The Komodo Kingdom building at the Akron Zoo was the first. Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is completing the LEED-certified renovation of a house that will be used for offices in Sand Run Metro Park.

In other business, the Personnel Committee did not discuss a resolution supporting passage of a 0.25-percent sales tax increase to fund METRO Regional Transit Authority. Instead, Kostandaras requested time, which the committee voted to approve.

During the resolution’s introduction the previous week, some Council members requested more financial information from METRO. Following this week’s committee meetings, Kostandaras said members did receive the strategic plan they requested.

“They showed they need the funding, but not for an eternity,” said Kostandaras, who is concerned there is no expiration for the proposed sales tax.

He said he would continue to work this week on consensus with Council members so that the resolution could possibly be voted on during the Feb. 11 Council meeting. The sales tax issue is on the March 4 Primary Election ballot.

METRO representatives have said that if the sales tax doesn’t pass, routes will be cut and weekend service will be eliminated.

The Public Works Committee recommended Council approve an extension of an agreement with Fairlawn for the county to provide engineering and maintenance of the city’s sewers through June 30.

According to Mike Weant, deputy director of Environmental Services, the original agreement expired in December. The extension would allow the county to make some modifications on how to charge Fairlawn for the service. Weant said Fairlawn currently pays $125,000 a year regardless of the services provided by the county.

Also Monday, Councilman John Poda (D-at large) asked all present for a moment of silence in memory of Robert Campbell, the former Summit County sheriff, who died Jan. 29.

Summit County Council is scheduled to meet Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. for caucus and 6 p.m. for the regular meeting in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.