The long-awaited animal shelter project is facing additional delays, but Animal Care and Control Director Madi Nix remains optimistic about its future. The project has sparked debates within the community, particularly over its estimated $10 million price tag, which has caused concern for both Nix and many local residents.
Sticker shock
Reflecting on the initial cost announcement several months ago, Nix recalled, “I was in a meeting with Ms. Vaughn when I heard $10 million and started crying,” she said. “We can’t do that. That’s not fair. There’s no way.”
She left the meeting feeling guilty about such an expensive facility with ongoing economic struggles. “People are struggling right now,” Nix emphasized. “I am. I know it hurts when I go to the grocery store.”
Same team
The project has also generated a divide in the community with two prominent social media groups. One faction advocates for immediate construction of the shelter, while the other seeks cost-saving measures.
Nix believes that both sides share the same goal but may be miscommunicating their concerns. “I think there may be a communication mishap only because both parties are so passionate,” she said. “I think we’re all on the same team but everyone just has different ways of approaching it.”
Misinformation
Concerns about misinformation regarding the project have also arisen. Nix clarified that the much-discussed $10 million price tag does not solely reflect the cost of the shelter itself, which is approximately $5.7 million.
The higher figure includes essential infrastructure improvements, such as water, sewer, and road access, necessary for both the shelter and a future south end rec department. “No one’s really looking at that either,” Nix noted. “They’re just hearing $10 million and they are saying, ‘Ah, heck no.’ I did the same.”
Public Works Director Jerry Baggett provided insight into the costs involved during Monday’s commission work session, detailing that the shelter building is priced at $5,743,391, with site preparation and infrastructure costing an additional $1,818,682.
Saving costs
Despite the challenges, Nix is exploring ways to save costs, particularly in landscaping and other non-essential aspects of the project. “Some of the cost savings could be done in the future,” she suggested, proposing that local organizations like the 4-H Club or Eagle Scouts could take on landscaping projects such as planting trees to reduce expenses.
Nix shared some of the concerns raised by county commissioners regarding the facility’s design, emphasizing the importance of future expansion. “If not, we will be in the same situation we are now,” she warned.
With her commitment to getting the project underway, Nix has even changed her personal plans. She had scheduled a two-week vacation out West but has decided to shorten it by a week to participate in upcoming county meetings. “The commission wants to move forward quickly,” she said.
