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The proposed Coffee County Animal Shelter designs were presented to the Capital Outlay Committee at the June 6 meeting, during which members approved the architect to proceed with the construction drawings to facilitate a request for quote. 

Project architect Aaron Brown, working with St. John Engineering, brought in changes that included a simplified roof design to provide a more economical design.

“With (Animal Control director) Craig (Boyd’s) assistance we were able to shift some program around, combine some programs into one room instead of having dedicated rooms,” Brown said.   

The entire structure is a metal building with a brick veneer on the front half. The rear portion where the animals will be house will be largely CMU, concrete material.

Brown said that precautions were included in the plans to protect the building’s steel components from corrosion caused by the presence of moisture and ammonia from urine.

One feature included at Boyd’s request was some flex space that could temporarily house animals in folding kennels during times of high capacity. Brown said that the current phase will accommodate about 50 animals with about 20 dogs in the flex space.

The building footprint is planned for 5,886 square-feet of heated and cooled space, plus a 350 square-foot porch on the front.

Brown said the price estimate would be about $150,000 on the low end for the building framework. The plan allows for a phase two add-on in the back, connected by a breezeway, that would allow for more kennels.

Capital Outlay Chairman Terry Hershman voiced his approval of the plans.

“I am more impressed with it now that I was,” he said. “It may not be as pretty (with the more basic roofline) but it’s functional.”