A long-awaited animal shelter in Jackson County is a step closer to reality.
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted 5-0 Monday for its staff to negotiate a long-term ground lease with the Jackson County Humane Society. Access to the land would allow the Humane Society to construct and operate an animal shelter.
“Basically, with the exception of the land, we have all the pieces in place to make the shelter a reality,” said Roxanne Rose, vice president of the Jackson County Humane Society Board of Directors, addressing the BOC. “We’re glad that the county realizes that and knows that the Humane Society of Jackson County is the solution to the animal problem in Jackson County.”
County manager Kevin Poe said a location on General Jackson Drive behind the health department has been identified. The 15-acre site is owned by the county.
“We’ve been working with them to try to find an appropriate location — to locate the animal shelter and to talk about future terms of how this shelter would be operated and how that would tie in to the county’s animal control operation,” Poe said.
Poe added that he and the group have already met with an architect.
The Jackson County Humane Society has been at work raising funds to build a shelter. The group wishes to enter into a long-term ground lease with the county to minimalize the capital cost of the project.
According to the paperwork in the recommendation to the BOC, the Humane Society would prefer not to make annual lease payments for the property provided by the county and requests that the county help prepare the construction site.
One of the long-term goals of the organization is to have a site large enough to house and take care of larger animals. It also hopes to incorporate a dog park into the plans one day.
In turn, an agreement would be negotiated between the Humane Society and county for intake of animals picked up by Jackson County Animal Control.
Rose said the group is very excited to reach this point after having been on the scene for several years. Through its foster program and spay-neuter program, the Jackson County Humane Society has taken thousands of animals “off the hands of the county” since 2007, according to Rose.
Rose said the Jackson County Humane Society has been in contact with at least 15 shelters in Georgia as they’ve planned for this facility. Some even traveled to Utah to meet with the Best Friends Animal Society.
Rose said the group has brought in a capital campaign manager and opened a retail thrift store “which will substantially contribute to the annual operating funds for the shelter.”
She noted that “internationally renowned” architectural firm, Urban Design Group, has provided several resources on a pro-bono basis and has even brought in a civil engineering firm to do pro-bono work as well.
“I want to compliment the entire group, both past and present for the great amount of work they’ve put into this venture,” Jackson County commissioner Bruce Yates said. “I think this is a perfect example of citizens being involved in a way which their government can work with the citizens to provide a service for all the citizens of Jackson County.”
Several supporters of the humane society attended the meeting.
“We appreciate all of you being here this evening in support of the humane society,” commission chairman Hunter Bicknell said. “It’s great recognition and demonstration of the support in what will, I think, lead to a very successful endeavor by the organization.”
