CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The recently funded North Clarksville library branch will share property with a new Animal Control facility, according to a statement by County Mayor Jim Durrett earlier this week.
The library branch and design funds for an animal control facility were approved as part of the FY23 capital projects budget, though funding for the library was significantly reduced. Both projects have been in the works for years, but have been delayed multiple times; the library due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Animal Control due to land acquisition issues.
Property was purchased for the library branch at 435 Jordan Road in 2018. Now, with a smaller library branch being designed, it appears a new Animal Control facility will be located on that property as well.
One site, two projects
The idea to put the two projects on a single site was hinted at by county commissioner Joe Smith on June 13 when the commission voted on the budget.
Durrett confirmed that this is the current strategy in a Facebook Live video on Thursday.
“With downsizing the library, we’re going to be able to put the new animal control facility on that piece of property,” Durrett said in the video. “(The library) is not exactly as big as they wanted, but we’re going to end up putting a library on the north side of Montgomery County. We know we have a lot of users from that area, so we want to provide that service on the north side of Montgomery County.”
He added that, by moving the building to Jordan Road, Animal Control will be closer to the area where most of their calls come from.
Becoming a ‘no-kill’ shelter
Clarksville Now spoke with Animal Control Director David Kaske, who said the new facility will provide much needed support to his department, which has struggled in their current building.
Moving to Jordan Road will also allow Animal Control to achieve their long-term goal of becoming a no-kill shelter.
“That’s our main goal. The new facility will be conducive to getting to that goal of becoming a no kill shelter because it will have a surgery suite, and hopefully we can have our own veterinarian,” Kaske said.
When asked about sharing a space with the library, Kaske said he believes the two could be excellent neighbors. The two could even work together on new programs to help children and animals.
“People who visit the library are most likely going to walk across the parking lot to the shelter and vice versa,” Kaske said. “And a lot of shelters do reading programs with the local library, that’s something we were trying to start a little while ago. It’s a good program. (The kids) come in and sit by the kennels, read to the dogs and it helps their enrichment.
Shelter Planners of America, who is designing the facility, has previously worked on projects that neighbored libraries. Kaske said he hopes to have a preliminary design to show the public in 5-6 months.