Feasibility Study For New Oconee County Animal Shelter Questioned By Animal Control Advisory Board

Tevis Architects’ recommendation that Oconee County replace its Animal Shelter with a new facility costing an estimated $2.9 million met with some resistance from members of the Animal Control Advisory Board at its meeting last week.

Board member Claire Hamilton said the price tag “is way too high...It is a pretty big price tag for the taxpayers.”

Board member Philip Freshley questioned the projections that Tevis Consulting made showing the number of intakes going up as the county’s population grows. Freshly noted that the data show a decline in intakes locally after a peak in 2014.

Board Chairman Tom Beacorn said he questioned the inclusion of space that would support the adoption program run by the Animal Shelter as well as staff meeting space in the proposed new facility.

Animal Control Department Director Catlyn Vickers told the Board members they should come to the Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 28 to hear a presentation from Tevis on the feasibility study it conducted for the county.

She also encouraged interested citizens to attend that meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Courthouse in Watkinsville.

For more on this story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: County Adminstrative Officer Jeff Benko.