Holmes County weighs $2.5M plan for new dog adoption center

The estimate for a proposed new Holmes County dog adoption center came in at a higher cost than the Holmes County Commissioners expected, and figuring out the future of a possible new facility was recently discussed during a meeting between the commissioners and Jonathan Beam, dog warden.

Beam informed the commissioners that he has been collaborating with Chris Reiser of Tekton Engineering in Berlin in an effort to flesh out what direction the county should move in creating a blueprint for the proposed new dog pound and adoption center.

Beam said with an estimated expense of $2.5 million, Reiser told him the county would need to have a Request for Quotation done by the commissioners to begin the process of creating a general design.

“Chris said the estimate of $2.5 million would be a very high, safe estimate that would include the whole full-building design,” Beam said. “If you’re OK with moving forward with the RFQ through your office, we can advertise it in The Bargain Hunter.”

Beam said Reiser explained the design expense would be between 5-10% of the building cost, which would force the county to seek an RFQ because the design expense would exceed the acceptable threshold that doesn’t require an RFQ.

The estimated $2.5 million for the building was more than the commissioners had anticipated, so the discussion centered around what steps need to be taken next in the process.

“We’re going to have to decide if we are willing to spend that much, can we spend that much, or do we want to go back and remodel what we have,” Commissioner Chairman Joe Miller said.

Commissioner Dave Hall agreed, stating the commissioner board would need to create further dialogue before moving in any direction.

“The issue becomes what is this $2.5 million design because we were looking at pretty much a standard (pole) building,” Hall said. “I can’t see where the $2.5 million comes in.”

Hall said should the county commit to an RFQ, the commissioners and dog warden’s office can manage the expense and build a new facility to get what the county wants, needs and can afford.

“Sometimes designers aren’t thinking exactly what we’re thinking,” Hall said. “I think we can manage that and focus on the kennels. Our biggest expense is going to be the kennel cages. Can we use some of the old ones? Do we need new, high-end because the old ones don’t work?”

Beam presented the commissioners with a rough design he had created that included an 11,500-square-foot building featuring three different pods of 10 kennels, along with five additional single kennels. He said currently the facility only had 14 kennels, which is far too few to maintain the pace they are currently facing with dogs coming in to be housed.

“We are already seeing some things we need to change and move around in the design,” Beam said. “I thought we would save money on a pole building design. If you look at other shelters, they are going in much bigger with 50 kennels.”

While Beam didn’t see any reason to expand on the office space, one area he said needs improved is the front lobby area where the public comes in, which his currently a very narrow space.

He also would like to add a surgery room, but he said the one thing he didn’t want to lose in the new plan was kennel size.

Miller said should the county not opt to go with a new facility, the commissioners would like to see other options in adding new kennels to the current facility.

The commissioners agreed the current building is old and outdated and parking is limited. Beam said they are seeing the concrete throughout the building beginning to come apart.

Another issue was the building of a new sewer system and whether that would be needed in addition to the plan. Beam said there are two separate sewer systems for human and dog waste currently in place.

Funding for the project would come from the county, although Beam said they could entertain creating a capital campaign to raise funds. Hall said seeking grants for this type of project would be difficult to obtain.

Beam said the department would put every effort into keeping the design basic and as inexpensive as possible.