Washington County staff seek board support to explore capital campaign for Bonnie Hayes shelter

Washington County health and human services staff on Thursday asked the Board of Commissioners for permission to pursue fundraising and planning work toward a new Bonnie Hayes Small Animal Shelter.

Randy Covey, manager of Washington County Animal Services, summarized audits and consultant work that found the current 30‑year‑old facility inadequate. He said the shelter is limited to 26 cats and 48 dogs and is subject to a two‑week maximum holding period imposed after the auditor’s review, a constraint that has effectively curtailed in‑house adoptions.

"The estimate for a new shed is $77,600,000. That's a lot of money," Covey said, adding that the figure includes land (about five acres), design contingencies and a $15 million contingency for inflation and timing.

Covey described a concept floor plan that would expand the facility from roughly 19,000 square feet to about 39,000 square feet and add indoor‑outdoor double compartments, a proper medical isolation area, staff meeting space and a classroom for community outreach. He said a larger facility would allow animals to stay longer (four weeks or more when needed), enable on‑site adoptions and reduce the county’s reliance on partner organizations to place animals.

Mira Samantel, director of Health and Human Services, and Covey said a fundraising feasibility study completed this summer identified pathways to raise private support but found limited direct engagement in early outreach — roughly nine substantive responses from about 300 solicitation invitations. The consultant recommended creating a dedicated capital‑campaign position and forming a "Friends of the Shelter" nonprofit to support community fundraising.

Chair Harrington pressed staff on community access to meeting spaces, suggesting meeting rooms should be available after hours. "I think it's high time that we start building new facilities, such that meeting room capacity can be accessed after hours," the chair said. Covey said the design shown by architects would allow meeting rooms to be isolated from animal operations for after‑hours community use and include ADA‑compliant restrooms.

Commissioners raised concerns about legal limits on using donated funds and alternative service models (outsourcing to humane societies). Commissioner Rogers urged caution and recommended staff consult County Counsel before transferring or reallocating donations. Covey said the county has a donation policy and would work with counsel; he also noted that some donors already support the shelter and that tax‑deductible giving to the county shelter is allowed in its current form.

Several commissioners voiced conditional support for staff to explore the recommendations and to use existing donated funds to hire limited‑duration campaign staff. Vice Chair Fye asked staff to return in the first quarter with a staffing plan and clarified that no general funds would be expended for the capital campaign work at this time.

The animal‑shelter presentation leaves open several next steps: staff will refine site‑selection criteria (including transit/access for residents who do not drive), memorialize CIP sequencing and return with a concrete staffing and campaign plan in Q1.