Interim financing for the new Vance County Animal Shelter will be on the agenda at next month’s meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.
A short term financing commitment was secured from BB&T Bank and will permit the construction phase for the new shelter to begin in the early spring of 2016. According to David Beck, Finance Director, there are a few more hoops to jump through, like getting approval from the Local Government Commission on the financing. The Local Government Commission was started during the Great Depression in 1931 and is responsible for approving local borrowing and is an arm of the North Carolina Treasurer Department.
Once construction is completed, the County will secure long term financing from the USDA and pay off the interim financing from BB&T. The long term financing will include all construction costs plus interest.
Current plans are for the new shelter to be constructed on five acres of land donated to the County by Charles and Mary Boyd. It will be an 8,700 square foot facility with over 130 kennels and will include an examination room, a large storage space, sally port and increased parking spaces for those visiting the shelter.
Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles indicated that he is overjoyed by the progress being made to replace the current 37 year old facility. One of the major problems with the current space is there are just too many animals housed within the facility and the larger building will be a blessing, as it will enable the shelter staff to provide top notch care for all animals surrender to the County.
Fund raising for the new shelter is currently under way with just over $32,000 raised to date. Donations can be made directly to the Vance County Animal Shelter and are tax deductible. If paying by check be sure to write in the memo line “Vance County Animal Shelter.”
(written by George Rush, WIZS News)
