The Greene County Board of Supervisors recently heard an update on the new animal shelter.

Facilitator Don Orris presented the Board a floor plan of the proposed structure. The 3,600-square foot facility includes 13 dog kennels, each with their own outside cage access, dog and cat isolation rooms, a cat room and 21 cat condos, a quiet room, a bathing and laundry room, food preparation station, an exam room and an after hours drop off room. Orris says the current facility isn’t adequate to take care of the animals.

With the land that has already been given to the City of Jefferson of four and a half acres on the southwest corner of the Greene County Development Corporation west business park, Orris proposed using the northeast portion for the building and the rest for a fenced in dog park.

The Board was agreeable that there needed to be a new shelter, but both the County and the City of Jefferson must agree on which entity will be responsible for operation and/or maintaining the facility, which Board Chair John Muir says they are willing to help.

“It makes sense for us and I hope it does for the City (of Jefferson). I hope we can come to an agreeable number of how we’re going to figure that out. We totally support it. When the numbers start to come in then you have to step back and take a look at a different side.”

Muir adds that the Board’s concern is how much is the County currently spending for their contribution to the current facility and how that compares to the new building.

Orris is expected to present his proposal to the Jefferson City Council at their next meeting and will then determine cost estimate for the project. He stressed to the Board that he doesn’t want the taxpayers to pay to build it, he would rather raise the money through donations.