A report from Shelter Planners of America on the Vermilion County Animal Shelter was reviewed Monday evening by the County Board Property Committee. After spending $16,800 in ARPA COVID relief money for the Arlington, Texas firm’s assessment; the feeling is, YES something needs to be done, and NO we cannot spend the money they recommend.
Recent years have brought all kinds of challenges; from the pandemic, to the early this year mysterious “dog respiratory disease” that put extreme strain on keeping infected dogs separate from healthy dogs in limited space.
The consultant says a complete new animal shelter at that location could cost between $12 million and $15 million. Replacing the older part, while allowing the newer part to stand, could cost up to $9 million; Shelter Planners of America says.
Property Committee Chairman Kevin Green heard from numerous committee members objecting to those totals. But at the same time, there’s also the feeling that you cannot simply ignore this problem. Green says, it’s time to get creative; and it looks like that goes for everyone.
AUDIO: The price tag on this is a surprise to everybody. So we will have to rethink about what direction we specifically want to go. And not just the County Board, but the community as a whole. We’ll need public input and support on whatever decision is made.
One decision that’s definitely been made is that the county needs more help from the City of Danville with this animal shelter. Under an agreement that’s about ten years old, Danville is paying the county $125,000 a year for animal shelter assistance. But with 52% of the animals the shelter takes in coming from Danville, the report from Shelter Planners of America says the city should be paying about $457,000. County Board Chairman Larry Baughn says; YES, they are talking about an updated agreement. But he does not necessarily agree with the 457,000 number the report recommends.
AUDIO: Mayor Williams and I, and the director of the animal shelter, sat down; I want to say it was early summer. We went through the animal shelter, and the mayor and I got a tour that day. And I know that Mayor Williams was well aware that we needed to look over the contract and renegotiate some of those terms. Now do I think that what that assessment says is a little high? I honestly do.
Baughn says he plans to visit a couple newer animal shelters. One in Kankakee County; and another one in Lafayette, Indiana that Shelter Planners of America was involved in. County Board member Jerry Hawker commented that in his eyes the Property Committee’s putting $200,000 in new money in the Fiscal Year 25 budget will at least help attack some immediate problems.
AUDIO: Upgrade electrical, or the heating and air conditioning; some of the doors that have deteriorated. At least get started on some of that little stuff.
The Shelter Planners of America report can be found on the Vermilion County website. vercounty.com
