 | | KEVIN GABOURY/CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | The Humane Society of the Ochocos selected the piece of land, located across from the airport on the corner of Highway 126 and George Millican Road, for a new facility. Board members cited visibility to passerby as a principal reason for choosing the site. |
|
By Kevin Gaboury
The Humane Society of the Ochocos, with help from Crook County, has selected a piece of land for a new and much improved shelter. After a lease agreement is worked out with the county, a 5-acre parcel on the west corner of Highway 126 and George Millican Road will be conveyed to the Humane Society.
After some discussion at a County Court meeting on Wednesday, principally on what is to happen with the current Humane Society facility located on Tom McCall Road, the court looked to be in favor of bestowing the land.
"The thing that's pretty clear is that the county court is very favorably disposed to giving the Humane Society the five acres they want to build this new facility," County Counsel Dave Gordon said. "I think they've approved it in concept; it's just a question of getting the documents and details worked out."
Gordon mentioned that the two specific details to be agreed upon are what the status of the 99-year lease of the current facility will be and what exactly will go into the new project. The new shelter is expected to measure around 10,000 square feet, triple the current shelter, and cost approximately $1 million.
Frank Porfily, president of the Humane Society of the Ochocos Board, said the location was chosen due to the visibility to passersby.
"We wanted some exposure to the public, and that place would really give us a lot of exposure," he said. "Everybody going by is going to see that. That's why we picked that area. It's very accessible to the public, and it's really easy to pull in there and find a cat or a dog if you want one."
Porfily stressed that the Humane Society intends to keep the current facility for overflow purposes, especially if another situation like the recently completed Powell Butte rescue is to arise. This rescue cost the Humane Society approximately $55,000 and depleted most of its reserves.
According to Humane Society of the Ochocos Board Member Greg Lynch, the Humane Society has received overwhelming support from the community at large, the sheriff's office and police department, and at least two-thirds of the county court.
"I'm very grateful for the support we've gotten from Mike McCabe and Scott Cooper, not to mention the police department, the Crook County Sheriff's Office and the community at large. They've all been extremely supportive, not only of our no-kill policy and our desire to establish a new shelter," he said. "However, I'm equally concerned about the lack of support from Commissioner [Lynn] Lundquist. He seems to be really antagonistic toward our efforts and what we're trying to accomplish. It's inconsistent with the support we've received from other county court members, and I don't understand it frankly."
However, Lundquist disagrees with this assessment.
"There's not any truth to that. I'm supportive of the Humane Society's mission, but at the same time, we need to be fiscally responsible. I'm questioning whether they need the other 2 1/2 acres as well," he said, speaking of the current site. "I support the Humane Society. It does a great job for the county."
As long as everything continues smoothly, Porfily hopes construction on the new facility will begin within a year. In the meantime, the board will be getting funding together for the project.
"We've got a grant writer on board," he said. "We're looking for people to help support the creation of a new building for us right now." |
