Two online groups have differing opinions about how to proceed with the construction of the new Habersham County Animal Shelter. One group wants to move forward as soon as possible and another group wants to “pause” for 90 days so citizens can provide input on rising construction costs.
Concerned citizens
Habersham County citizen Dale Latty posted on a community Facebook group that a “local group has conducted research on the proposed expenditures by our county commissioners for an animal control facility and noted that the $1.75 million funding voted in SPLOST VII for the project has now quadrupled to almost $8 million.” His post continues, “It appears county leaders are now considering to “borrow” massive funding rather than to stay within the approved funding schedule.”
Latty is on the agenda for Monday night’s Habersham County Commission regular meeting. Since he signed up before 5 p.m. Friday, He will have the opportunity to address the commissioners for five minutes about the “pause.”
Latty’s post states that his group is made up of “staunch guardians of conservative fiscal policy and we have some outstanding animal advocates.” Latty believes that this combination of people is a “recipe for success.” It continues, “Commissioners will be asked to take a 90-day pause to allow time to open up discussion and look at a more reasonable cost alternative.”
Latty’s post concludes, “Since rumors have already been launched that our group wants only to shut down the animal shelter project, interested taxpayers and animal advocates may want to attend the regular meeting of the Habersham County Commission.”
Now, Habersham has received a letter outlining the principles of a group calling itself the “Concerned Citizens of Habersham County.” The letter outlines what is posted on Latty’s page. (Click here to read the letter.)
Second group
Conversely, another group led by Kathrine Warwick has been advocating for the new animal shelter to be built for over a year.
Warwick’s Facebook post on the Expand Habersham Animal Shelter Now on September 12 states, “There will be a group ready to speak at the meeting that will be trying to convince the commissioners to stop the project to build the new shelter and to start over from the beginning.”
Her post adds, “I know how hard it is to speak in public, but I did it for the pets who cannot plead for themselves. We need you and they need you.“ She asks those interested to be at the commission meeting on Monday.
For those citizens who didn’t sign up before the Friday cutoff time, they still have an opportunity to address the commission with their concerns about the project. They can sign up before the meeting on Monday evening. However, they will only be able to speak for three minutes.
Warwick says she has spoken to the county commissioners individually, online, and in person. She addressed the county commission during its January meeting nine months ago, pleading with commissioners to move forward with the animal shelter project. Last year, Warwick launched an online petition urging the county to act.
SEE ALSO: County inching closer to breaking ground on new animal shelter
During that meeting, Commission Chairman Ty Akins assured Warwick that the animal shelter would be built and fully funded with SPLOST funds. County Manager Alicia Vaughn echoed Akins’ statements. She assured Warwick that the county was committed to building the new facility and would assist the animal shelter with what it needed over the next 18 months or however long it takes to get into the new facility.
Construction costs
Recently, Warwick has heard that grading for the parcel the county intends to use may reach $2 million, a cost she fears will delay the project even further. She fears that any “pause” would result in the project not being completed.
The 15,000-square-foot animal shelter is slated to be built on a tract of land the county owns on Old Athens Highway behind South Habersham Middle School. The project was budgeted in 2020 for $1.75 million. Due to construction costs and inflation, the price tag for the new shelter has inflated over the last three years to nearly $8 million.
In May, a construction manager at risk was hired to move forward with the project as a cost-saving measure. The anticipated date to break ground for the project was last month. However, that has not occurred. Once started, the project is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete.
