The Nevada Humane Society board voted to provide $225,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment at Carson City’s planned new animal shelter, the Nevada Appeal learned Wednesday.
The decision by the board of the Reno-based society, which handles Carson City animal services and runs the capital city’s existing shelter, came Tuesday night, according to Mendy Elliott of the society.
“They voted last night,” she said. “There is a (society) budget item for FF&E. It was a ‘no-brainer’ for us.” FF&E refers to furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Elliott said the society is committed to Carson City and wants to help. The decision came not long before the Carson City Board of Supervisors meets Thursday to decide whether to increase the amount committed by a plan of expenditure for capital projects, which originally called for $3.9 million to build a new shelter here.
Bids came in at more than that amount and value engineering was attempted to cut the construction costs, but City Manager Nick Marano was seeking authority for $4.5 million, according to the city board’s agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the city’s governing board. The shelter issue is set for after lunch today. A super-majority of four votes is required to increase the plan of expenditure.
Elliott indicated the humane society, which came to Carson City via a $700,000 pact last year to run animal services, is committed here and wants to participate by stepping up to help mitigate the funding gap. Earlier Tuesday, Kevin Ryan, the society’s CEO, had told the Appeal a shelter with a clinic and a secure garage to bring in stray animals were important elements of the planned shelter.
Carson City’s current shelter is more than a half century old and the new one in eastern Carson City would replace it when built, if that move is approved by the board later today.
In a peripheral matter, Supervisor Lori Bagwell confirmed Wednesday she will serve on a animal services and shelter oversight citizens panel headed by state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer to monitor the society’s work here. Ryan had said Tuesday there would be a supervisor joining Kieckhefer and three Carson City residents on that panel, which will meet for the first time Wednesday. It will meet every other month.
“Yes,” said Bagwell, “I’ve agreed to serve on the oversight panel.” She also said she has checked with Carson City veterinarians about a shelter clinic’s competition with them on spay/neuter operations and they told her it’s not a major problem. “I met with several vets in town,” she said, “and they all agreed that a low-cost spay/neuter program is needed at the shelter.”
Bagwell wasn’t prepared to disclose how she would vote Thursday, but did indicate she’s pleased with the opportunity on the oversight panel to be a city representative helping provide accountability.
Editor’s note: This story was modified from its original verision to correct an error of fact.
