It will be two or three more weeks before Jackson County decides who will operate the county’s new animal center, which is virtually complete but now stands empty in eastern Independence.

A Friday deadline passed with only Great Plains SPCA responding to a request for proposals.

But the city of Independence remains in the running, according to county legislator Dennis Waits, who back in July urged county officials to find someone other than Independence to run the center.

Waits feared the city would not commit enough money to run a “no kill” shelter, as was called for in a management agreement both parties signed before construction of the $5 million facility began.

But negotiations continue. As of Monday, Waits said he was confident everyone involved will be pleased with the final decision.