A Long and Winding Road – to the New McDonough County Animal Shelter
With All Its Bumps and Curves
(A Condensed Version)
Where the Road Began . . .
In 2017 the County and HSMC each received a directed estate bequest ($59,378 each; total of $118,755) from Richard Yeast of St. Charles MO. This was to be for capital improvements at the current shelter or for a new shelter. Discussions of what this would entail and completion of a memo of understanding between the County Board, which administers the shelter, and the Humane Society were ongoing from January 2018 through April 2021. The Memo of Understanding documented our agreement to ensure a continued working partnership related to efforts to build and utilize a new shelter. It also outlined the access the Humane Society would have to the building, which we considered critical to our work in supporting the shelter animals and serving the community. The MOU stated that the HSMC would be responsible for all the fundraising for construction of a new shelter as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, making donations tax deductible. The County Board would have final approval of accepted bids. The County Board would also continue to have administrative oversight of the new shelter.
A joint committee with representatives from the shelter staff, the County Board, and Humane Society then had many meetings to develop plans for a new shelter that would house the same number of cats and dogs as the current shelter while addressing the deficits of the current shelter. These included actual cat rooms (not in the garage), isolation areas for quarantine and control of disease spread; a washer and dryer not in the dog room; adequate office space, storage, and parking; a vet/exam space; attached drop-off kennels; a separate meet and greet room, not in the office, and an all-purpose room for meetings, training, and education. We worked hard to ensure we had all the components needed for an efficient and effective infrastructure that will provide a safe and healthy environment for the animals, public, staff, and volunteers. While building committee players have changed over the years, this design framework has remained fairly consistent since its inception, with a few tweaks related to what we have researched and learned from other shelters. The enclosed space is around 8125 sq. ft. The current shelter is 2100 sq. ft. (33×64).
At the same time we began our journey looking for a building site or a possible renovation of an existing building. This included work with lawyers and with architects in our exploration. In the fall of 2023 we spent time seriously pursuing the possibility of renovating two existing buildings: the old RP Lumber on West Jackson, and Louderman’s Auction House. Both were over $1.6 million to get ready to create as a shelter. This was after paying asking price or $600,000 or so. The old RP Lumber building was an especially good fit for our needs, but it was off the market before we could raise the funds.
Where We Are Now
A year ago, we had discussions with Mayor Inman and Eric Blakeley, Chair of County Board, regarding use of the Car Impoundment area east of the current shelter for the new construction. The City had said from the beginning of the Campaign that this land was available to us. A Memo of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Macomb and HSMC was approved at the third reading at City Council on April 21, 2025. This MOU leases one acre of the Impoundment Lot to HSMC for construction of the new shelter, with the caveat that the HSMC pay for moving the electronic gate and fence around the lot. Bid to do so was $20,500. Since then concerns have been voiced by contractors about the soil quality and the need to do a deep soil boring because of it being a land fill site. The expense of this and the cost of moving the Impoundment Lot fence are critical in our decision-making about location.
This last year, under the County Board leadership of Ken Durkin (Chair of Human Resources and Planning Committee) and Eric Blakeley, a new memo of understanding was dratted between the County Board and HSMC. This replaced the MOU approved in April of 2021. In it HSMC owns the shelter and leases it to the County for 99 years. This MOU also streamlined the building bid and contractual process, giving us more leeway because we are a 501(c)(3) and not a government entity. All administrative expenses of running the shelter will continue to be paid by the County. The revised MOU was approved May 21, 2025.
Our building committee has a diverse range of expertise, from architects to business owners, to a veterinarians and a heating and cooling professional. Each and every member is committed to getting the shelter built sooner rather than later, and to having it be a community resource of which we all can be proud. We have spent a considerable amount of time researching best practices, and speaking with staff from other shelters, along with touring shelters. We have learned what to do, what not to do, things others wish they had invested more in and much more. The shelter will be a facility that serves our community well for decades to come. We are invested in ensuring its durability and to it being a welcoming place for potential adopters, volunteers, and those seeking assistance in being good pet caretakers.
The big bump in the road right now is site selection. We thought we were set on using the acre of land in the Car Impoundment area. While we haven’t written this off yet, we are actively pursuing other potential sites that may be less problematic. Ideally the site would be away from residential areas, have access to city water, not take major site development work, be accessible to the public, and provide plenty of opportunity for volunteer dog walking. That’s why the area by the current shelter is so attractive. We have plenty of walking paths, the dog playpens exist, and we are off the beaten path. So, at this point, any suggestions or donations of land would be so welcome. Minimally we need 1 ½ to 2 acres. It takes a village, or better sad, it takes a community to raise the roof on our new shelter.
While site selection continues to be a major decision, the exponential increase in the cost of construction continues to push our fundraising goal further out. In 2019 we were given ballpark estimates of $1.5 million. We know now that costs will far exceed this amount.
As an example an HVAC system will be around $270,000. As we’ve talked with other shelters, one of the most identified mistakes made in construction of their shelters is not investing in an adequate ventilation system to control contagious airborne disease.
We recently have met with Morton Buildings in Carthage. They have given us a preliminary estimate to build the shell of the building and will provide an estimate for the entire project if we sign a Phase 1 contract for $15,000. The preliminary estimate to build the enclosed shell of the building is $1 – $1.2 million. We are also exploring other options with local contractors, again wanting to ensure quality as well as affordability. We hope to break ground this coming year. And then once the public sees the shelter is really going to be built, we hope this will generate more money coming in.
Shelter Campaign
We are determined to be good stewards of the funds that have been given to us to build the much-needed new shelter. The public’s support is so appreciated, whether it’s through donations, memorials, attendance at fund-raisers or to offer a match challenge to the community. Our campaign kicked off in the spring of 2021 when Bob and Donna Quesal offered a $10,000 match in honor of their deceased dogs, adopted from the McDonough County Animal Shelter. The Susie Q, Jesse, and Maggie May Tribute Challenge raised $54,000. The Quesals also wanted to highlight the importance of a new shelter and what it would mean to the community.
Since then we have had a number of fundraisers, including three Casino Nights (which have brought in over $130,000). The Wine Sellers have hosted a fall Playing It Forward afternoon/evening event over the last five years, bringing in an annual average of $5,000 from the musicians’ tips and donations those evenings. Dr. Karen Blakeley conducted the Have a Heart Build a Dream Campaign, raising approximately $30,000.
Two $10,000 matches have come from afar: Gloria (Caldwell) Vankan who grew up in Macomb, and her husband who now reside in the state of Virginia . The first match challenge was last June as a Memorial Match for Gloria’s parents, Ernest and Helen Caldwell. It generated $63,000 for the new shelter. And the second $10,000 match is underway now through Valentine’s Day in honor of Spanky their adopted dog who passed away last year and to celebrate all dogs and cats adopted from our shelter. It’s nice to have friends from afar!
This last year we received $10,000 from McDonough Power Cooperative and the CoBank Sharing Success Grant Program. We’ve received other funding from them in past years.
We are hoping once we can finally announce that we are ready to begin that we will generate local support from contractors and suppliers. We welcome offers of assistance. Last August I contacted Pella Corporation requesting windows and doors, and will “knock on their door” once again when we can show renderings of our plans.
We submitted a grant proposal for the McDonough Power Cooperative Round-Up competition. They don’t fund construction costs so the proposal focused on the need for an all-purpose Community Room in the new shelter and asked for tables, chairs, apartment size refrigerator and audiovisual equipment for showing training videos and slide shows. We were encouraged to try again once construction is underway.
We also submitted a grant proposal to the Fellheimer Trust for funding for the multi-purpose community room in the new shelter. It was turned down. It is difficult to find construction grant opportunities.
We currently have over $1.1 million in the bldg. campaign coffers. We are well aware we will need much more.
So, how can you help us finalize our journey toward an actual new facility for needy animals – one that will be a valued community center?
Donate services.
Share site ideas.
Spread the word.
Advise us on how to get the word out.
Attend the fourth Casino Night .
New Animal Shelter Building Committee
Eric Blakeley
Karen Blakeley
Ken Durkin
Loren Dimmitt
Terri Hare
Sharon Lindahl
Bonnie Smith-Skripps
Jen Tibbitts
Brian Waller
Kathy Waters
Zack Welch