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County says animal shelter building is aging; staff to apply for CDBG-DR funding
Summary
County staff reported the animal shelter building (constructed circa 1980) is cramped and showing wear; staff identified a potential county-owned site near the law-enforcement center and plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery funding (referred to as 'Helen Relief Program') with a target submission in early July.
County staff told commissioners on June 8 that the McDowell County animal shelter, built about 45 years ago, is space-constrained and expensive to maintain and that staff are pursuing funding for a replacement facility.
Mr. Wooten said staff spent roughly 18 months identifying potential county-owned parcels and that a site near the law enforcement center on Spalding Road is under consideration. He described routine maintenance challenges at the older facility and said materials and construction standards have changed since 1980, creating recurring repair and corrosion problems.
Funding plan and timeline: Wooten said staff plan to apply for Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery funding (referred to in the meeting as the 'Helen Relief Program') for three prioritized projects (a 911 center, an expansion to the Old Fort senior center, and an animal shelter). He estimated the application would be due about July 8, with awards possibly announced in September or October. "I've talked about you've authorized the application ... and probably those three and probably that order have likelihood of being funded," he said.
Regulatory risk: Wooten reminded commissioners that the North Carolina Department of Agriculture inspects animal facilities and has authority to close noncompliant shelters. "They can shut it down, can't they?" a commissioner asked; Wooten confirmed the department has that ability and that the county has historically been responsive to inspections.
Next steps: Staff will prepare the CDBG-DR application and pursue other funding sources as needed; commissioners did not take further formal action on the shelter at this meeting.
