Wilson County committee backs purchase of Road Commission building, advances $4.2M shelter plan

Wilson Countyanimal control staff and a consultant presented conceptual plans and cost estimates for a new animal shelter and the committee approved buying a Road Commission building for $1,500,000 to host the project.

The discussion matters because the county's existing animal control facility is more than two decades old, routinely operates at or above capacity, and county staff say the building does not meet current animal-care design and ventilation standards. Committee members advanced a plan that would fund design and preliminary work and take the project to bid, with a preliminary project estimate of about $4.2 million for the larger option (not including the $1.5 million purchase price).

Director Steve Gatlin, animal control director, told the committee that the current shelter is about 23 years old and routinely houses more animals than the layout was intended to handle. "It is time for a new shelter," Gatlin said, noting an average census of about 25.5 dogs and 30 dogs in the facility on the day of the presentation. Gatlin described recent operational…