Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Shelter topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Architect details $2.8M dog‑pound plan; commissioners weigh bonds, donations and partnership with nearby nonprofit
Summary
An architect showed commissioners a 7,000‑sq‑ft dog‑pound design on donated land; estimated construction costs and a $200,000 private gift were discussed while commissioners asked staff to explore bond financing, fundraising and possible collaboration with the local Animal Welfare League.
Architect David Schneider presented renderings and a site plan for a proposed Trumbull County dog pound at the Jan. 29 workshop, describing a roughly 7,000‑square‑foot masonry building with separate intake, isolation and adoption spaces and an administrative core.
Schneider said the donated site was roughly 3 acres but included a steep slope and existing utility crossings that limited usable footprint; he estimated the building and site work at roughly $2.8 million if bid to specification. Commissioners discussed financing options including a bond issue and splitting non‑essential furnishings and equipment as donations or fundraising goals. County staff and a commissioner said about $200,000 in community donations had come forward; staff also suggested a public capital campaign and use of a charitable 501(c)(3) to receive tax‑deductible gifts.
Several commissioners urged caution and suggested meeting with board members of the neighboring Animal Welfare League to align operations and ensure the nonprofit’s finances are stable before the county builds a large facility adjacent to it. “I don’t want us to build a $2.8M building next to a building that’s vacant,” one commissioner said, and recommended a sit‑down with AWL board members to explore leasing, shared services or partial co‑location to reduce duplication and financial risk.
Why it matters: The project would be a visible county capital expenditure with ongoing operating costs (staffing, utilities) and potential interdependence with local nonprofits. Commissioners requested further cost breakdowns, potential bond sizing and a plan showing how donations or a capital campaign could cover furnishings and extras.
Next steps: Staff will gather final cost breakdowns and examine possible bond structures and philanthropic options; commissioners asked that county staff meet with AWL leadership and report back.
Sources: Architect presentation and multiple commissioner remarks at the Jan. 29 meeting.
