Towards the end of last year, a proposal for a new animal shelter was proposed to the Greene County Board of Supervisors and the Jefferson City Council.

However, the County and City couldn’t agree on how split up the proposed $161,000 operating budget and which entity would have ownership. Plus the facility would cost an estimated $1.2 million to build. About eight months later, a new proposal was recently made to both government entities.

The County Supervisors agreed at their meeting on Monday to commit $15,000 toward the estimated $77,000 operating budget, after the new $650,000-$750,000 facility is built through donations. However, Jefferson City Councilperson and animal shelter steering committee member Dave Sloan says the Council chose to wait on their $35,700 commitment toward the operating budget.

“We are waiting to see what our building is going to cost us. We do have a plan with Morton Builders right now. I’m hoping within two weeks we will be able to get a lock down commitment from the City.”

He adds that something needs to change from the current facility that both the County and City are using, along with help from volunteers with the People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

“Those ladies have worked awful hard throughout the year. They deserve it and the people of Jefferson deserve a better facility than what we have. It’s just getting totally inadequate.”

The proposed land for the 40-foot-by-80-foot metal building is on the southwest corner of the Greene County Development Corporation West Business Park, which was donated to the project.

Sloan adds the committee is looking to do all of their fundraising to build the facility within 18-months from when it starts.