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Volunteer group BARC reports $740,000 raised; county confirms $2.5 million reserved for new animal shelter
Summary
BARC, a volunteer nonprofit, told the Board of Supervisors it has raised more than $740,000 toward a proposed new animal shelter. County staff and supervisors said $2.5 million in the capital improvement plan (CIP) is available and that design and construction planning could begin next calendar year.
Katie Lane, president of BARC, told the Campbell County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 that the volunteer nonprofit has raised more than $740,000 for a proposed new county animal shelter. Lane said the group has secured a $50,000 matching gift described as a "Giving Match" and has increased fundraising activity with events, T-shirt sales and community partnerships.
The Board and county staff said the county previously set aside $2.5 million for a shelter in the CIP. County staff confirmed the funds are recorded in the county’s fund balance and available for the project. Frank Rogers, speaking for staff during the meeting, said the county expects to aggregate available funds with BARC’s fundraising and “hopefully be setting a course toward design and construction of the new facility very early in the new calendar year.”
BARC was formed as a 501(c)(3) in 2020 after volunteers and county employees began discussing shelter funding and planning in 2017–2018, Lane said. She told the board the group paid for conceptual designs and community outreach and presented those designs to the county in 2023 and 2024. Lane said BARC remains all-volunteer and that community partners have supported fundraising efforts; she specifically cited visits and support from local businesses and schools.
Board members praised the group’s fundraising and discussed short-term next steps. Supervisor remarks at the meeting included an informal suggestion that board members individually donate modest amounts to help BARC meet the $50,000 matching challenge. Board staff said grant funding options continue to be explored; county staff noted preliminary research indicated some grant streams are more likely to flow to a municipal recipient than directly to a nonprofit. The board also said it will continue working with BARC on project planning and community outreach.
The county has not yet approved a final design, contract, timeline or construction bid. County staff said additional steps — including finalizing project scope, design documents and grant or other funding commitments — are needed before construction procurement. No formal motions or binding commitments on construction contracts were made at the Oct. 7 meeting.
The board thanked Lane and BARC volunteers for their fundraising and outreach and said the county will continue coordinating with the nonprofit ahead of any design or construction work next year.
Ending: The county’s $2.5 million CIP allocation and BARC’s fundraising together establish a near-term path to design planning; precise next steps and a construction schedule will depend on final design, procurement and any additional fundraising or grant awards.
