WREX: New Boone County animal shelter proposed

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New Boone County animal shelter proposed

Posted: Aug 27, 2014 5:05 PM CDT

By Ken DeCoster

BOONE COUNTY (WREX) -

When you step inside Boone County's animal shelter, it's clear it's not in the best shape.
"This building is about 60 years old. It was originally designed as a veterinary clinic. It was never designed as an animal control facility," says Roger Tresemer, a supervisor at Boone County Animal Services.
Boone County Board Member Cathy Ward says the building outlived its usefulness years ago.
"You can see that the cages are butted up against each other and they need space so they don't share diseases, so they don't share insects and fleas and teh rest of it," Ward says.
This November, Boone County voters will decide the fate of that shelter. The county wants to spend $800,000 to build and equip a new animal services facility approximately three times the size of the existing shelter.
The recommended site is near Highway 76 and Squaw Prairie Road.
"It's more visible. There's more space. We've often had complaints about this space which is on Appleton Road near home. The new site is wide open adn would be much easier for people to get to and find," Ward says.
But the perks come with a price. Voters need to decide on the issue because it's their tax dollars paying for it. The county would raise property taxes to secure the funds.
It's too early in the process to determine if that's something voters are willing to do — but come November, the county will have its answer.