Hancock County supervisors discuss new animal shelter planning, set aside money and request site reviews

Hancock County supervisors on June 2 discussed planning for a larger animal shelter and asked staff to begin gathering cost estimates and to arrange site visits with county engineers and other officials.

The discussion arose during a routine agenda item on county facilities, when supervisors said the current facility is undersized and that recent donations and earmarked funds could help start planning. Board members asked county staff to identify nearby facilities the county could inspect and to provide pricing for metal building shells and simpler interior layouts for kennels.

County officials and staff said metal building exteriors could keep costs lower while the animals’ interior kennel areas would need concrete floors and other durable finishes. The board referenced recent donations, including a $5,000 contribution noted in the meeting record, and said additional funds may be forthcoming from local sources but did not specify amounts beyond that contribution.

Supervisors asked county engineering staff and facilities personnel to walk the existing shelters and provide preliminary designs and cost estimates to the board, and they encouraged commissioners to attend on-site reviews. No formal contract or construction funding was approved at the meeting; the board’s action was to request planning information and cost estimates.

The board approved the motion to move forward with planning by a 5-0 vote. Staff were directed to report back with pricing, examples of neighboring counties’ designs, and recommendations for next steps.