CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County officials this week hosted a community information meeting about the planned North Clarksville Library Branch and Animal Control facilities, which will share property in northwest Clarksville.
Officials tackled several issues, including noise questions, what the library will offer, and how the new facility will help Animal Control toward its goal of becoming a no-kill agency.
Speakers during the meeting included:
- Jeremiah Walker, county commissioner for District 10
- Nick Powell, chief engineer of Montgomery County
- Christiana Riedel, interim library director for Montgomery County
- Dave Kaske, director of Animal Control
Origin of the idea
The property was purchased in 2018, with the intended purpose that it would be the home for the new branch library at 435 Jordan Road. According to Powell, after progressing through the design phase, square footage was estimated to be around 25,000 square feet.
The project was put on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t until the 2022 budget cycle that the County Commission decided it was time to move forward, but they were going to reduce the size of the library while adding an Animal Control center on the property.
The infrastructure of the library had been downsized due to budget constraints and the timeline, so the library is now estimated to be around 16,000 square feet.
“We decreased size dramatically to where we originally started out,” Powell said. “But that gets us to the budget where we need to be, and what we’re going to end up making this into.”
The Animal Control center is estimated to be a little under 24,000 square feet. He said they could modify the square footage moving forward, so nothing is definite.
Library branch
Riedel noted that even with the size reduction, the library is finding ways to maximize the space available to them.
“The amazing thing is, sometimes when you make things harder, you have to find a way to pivot, and then you see all these things that were made better because of it,” Riedel told Clarksville Now. “Now we have more shelves for books, and through this redesign, we were able to have a bigger programming space, which is so exciting.”
Riedel explained how the library expects to make a difference, and listed some of the activities and programs they already offer at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library on Pageant Lane.
“Libraries aren’t in the book business; we’re in the hope business,” Riedel said. “Sometimes it’s a hope for a place to eat, a place to build community and meet a new friend. It’s amazing because when people come to a town, they want to come to their library. So, they want to meet new people, and in a military town especially, so many of the mamas connect with each other.
“We also have volunteers that do crafts with the kids. One of the wonderful things from last month that I’m excited about, we fed over 500 kids through an afterschool feeding program. Then, over 300 folks got their taxes done for free.”
The local library also offers genealogy classes, space for nonprofits to hold their meetings, and downloadable options such as business classes.
Riedel said that the library branch and Animal Control center may develop programs where the two sides work together as well. She offered examples such as pet therapy for those on the spectrum of all ages, programming to help people become better pet owners, giveaways and dog-book readings.
If everything is approved, the North Clarksville Library Branch could open in 14 to 18 months.
Animal Control Center
As for the Animal Control Center, Powell said the facility will look relatively similar to the library branch. Over time, the materials used will be based off cost and what the project can afford.
Powell told those in attendance these will be two separate buildings with fencing all the way around.
The staff parking lot will face the residential neighborhood to the west.
“It’s very functional to staffing,” said Powell. “That’s where staff parking is going to be, where their entrance is going to be, and some mechanical units are going to be. It’s very operational and we’re doing that intentionally. The designers, Shelter Planners of America, do this all over the nation.
“I know that’s some of your questions, what are we going to do about that. This is how this group, the design team, has optimized this site to make noise control the best they know how to professionally.”
Building layout
The Animal Control Center layout will include dog and cat kennels with an interior and exterior design. The two portions of the kennel will be separated by a garage door, which is expected to be opened the majority of the time.
The reasoning behind this is for the animals to receive natural-circulating air. The kennels then will be shut every night.
“If we can afford the garage doors with some windows, they’re going to be put in,” Powell said. “That’s part of our noise mitigation. If the money isn’t there upfront, the dogs will still be brought into the interior kennels at night so there won’t be any noise at night.
“Also, the way that this is, with it being more structured, the noise is propagated outward toward Purple Heart Parkway, and not so much to the west toward the closest residential neighborhood.”
The kennels will also have a secondary fence to minimize the chances of dogs escaping, and they’ll have skylights for function and natural light.
With this new Animal Control Center, the county plans to triple the total number of kennels. As of right now, the Montgomery County Animal Care and Control Center only has 47 kennels. The plan for the new center includes approximately 99 kennels.
Becoming a no-kill shelter
Kaske told Clarksville Now that back in 2018 when he first was brought onboard, the live release rate was around only 63%, with the rest of the animals being euthanized.
“We made a commitment back then to become a no-kill shelter, and I cannot speak enough for the staff has really elevated us to where we are at today,” Kaske said.
“At the end of 2021, our live-release rate was 86%, and you have to reach a 90% live release rate on a consistent basis to be considered a no-kill shelter. The new facility is going to let us achieve that, primarily because we’ll have more space, and we’ll have in-house services.”
Kaske’s goal is for the Animal Control Center to become a no-killer shelter over the next two years. The overall timeline from breaking ground to completion is estimated to take 18 months.
Great turnout for meeting
Walker told Clarksville Now that these facilities are all about growth.
“I’m never opposed to growth,” Walker said. “I just want to make sure it’s done safe, it’s done decent and in order. I want the people to have a voice on what’s being built in their backyard. I support both the library and the Animal Control Center. I’m totally behind it, but there were questions asked of me which I couldn’t answer. That’s when I went to the (county) mayor and asked if we can put together a public meeting.
“I was amazed at everyone in the community who attended the meeting. I took a count, including the six county commissioners who attended, we had 100 people. I wasn’t sure if we’d get anybody, but it all worked out well, and it was a great turnout.”