Renovations to the fomer YakAttack building in Burkeville are about 90% complete for Nottoway County’s new animal shelter, according to Administrator Steve Bowen.
Bowen reported Thursday night that the County’s IDA borrowed $2.2 million for the renovations and that “we’re getting close” to completion.
Supervisor Dicky Ingram reported that the Nottoway Cares volunteer group has now surpassed the $750,000 mark in fundraising and is assisting the County with developing a shelter volunteer program.
The County intends for its shelter to meet all state requirements. Bowen said that will include an upcoming inspection by the State Veterinarian’s Office.
The Cares group, said Ingram, will use its money for the County to provide for “extra” features that aren’t required.
Supervisor John Roark is among those impressed by the Cares group’s efforts. He asked, in jest, if its next project could be raising money for the school system’s estimated $4 million HVAC replacement at Crewe Primary.
In addition to spending $375,000 for the building, the County three years ago spent $202,290 working for several months with RRMM Architects, which drew plans for the County to build a brand new 5,700 sq. ft. building.
Supervisors in May 2023 received only one bid to build a new shelter — a $4.9 proposal from Kenbridge Construction. That bid was rejected.
The project was re-bid. Norman Company of Mechanicsville was the only firm to respond in September 2023, with a price of $3.8 million. Supervisors rejected that bid, too.
Plans to build a new structure were scrapped, and the County retained Danville-based Solex Architecture for $10,000 to design renovations for the former YakAttack building, which spans about 6,000 sq. ft.
Nottoway County in early 2025 accepted a low bid of $2,103,550 from Hurt & Sons LLC of Nashville, North Carolina.
Supervisors have voted previously to spend no more than $3.2 million of County money on the new shelter.
The current shelter spans only 1,100 sq. ft., has no restrooms, and is located at the County Landfill.
The new shelter will have public parking, public restrooms and 14 indoor kennels, with connected outdoor runs — compared to 10 kennels at the current facility.
The new shelter’s cat adoption room will accommodate 16 felines — compared to six cages at the current facility. An isolation room at the new shelter will have 13 cages for animals with contagious diseases — compared to only one cage each for dogs and cats at the current shelter.
A special needs room for cats and dogs will include 26 cages. The current facility has none.
Loading Comments