City of Stillwater gets public input on potential new Animal Welfare facility

Mar. 27—The City of Stillwater hosted a community meeting Tuesday evening to discuss a proposed new Animal Welfare facility, after choosing yet another potential site.

The goal was to discuss the new location after the previous location fell through due to disapproving residents in the the nearby neighborhood. The new site would be on Hargis Road, next to the airport and beside Waste Management.

Throughout the presentation during the meeting, City of Stillwater Director of Communications Dawn Dodson compared the current Animal Welfare facility to the proposed Animal Welfare facility, citing needs that cannot be met currently.

The new structure will allow for more animal capacity with larger kennels, enclosed vehicular loading, a dog park and walking trails. It will also allow for future expansion.

As for the total cost of the new Animal Welfare facility, Dodson gave an estimated example of the predicted increase in property taxes for the average Stillwater household, which are critical facts to residents if Council approves a bond election.

The project is expected to cost a total of $6.75 million. If this amount is spread over 10 years, the property tax of an owner-occupied housing unit at nearly $200k would increase by approximately $55.63 per year.

The current bond for Fire Station No. 2 will increase property taxes for this category by $32.90 per year. Therefore, altogether the increases in property tax will total to $88.53 per year.

After discussing the new location, new and enhanced amenities, bonds, costs and how costs will affect Stillwater residents, Dodson turned to the audience to answer any questions.

One Stillwater resident asked if volunteers have had any say during the process of relocation. Dodson said resident participation in the process is crucial, and spoke about the need for public participation to make the project a success.

"The site selection piece has been very methodical and intentional and what we would like to do with that space is to ... add a walking trail and more of a dog park area. So, hopefully that would increase areas for our volunteers to help us with animals there," Dodson said, hopeful the new location will attract more people.

A person asked if the City would expect fewer volunteers due to the location now being further from the City.

"I think it is all in perspective ... it may not be further for everyone," Dodson said. "Some volunteers, it may be closer for them, and some it may be further. We're just trying to find the best space."

Dodson was also asked if it were possible that the fire station located near the current Animal Welfare facility be relocated, and whether this may be less complicated than moving Animal Welfare.

"Our fire stations are meticulously located for population and the needs in those areas," Dodson said. "That is why our Fire Station No. 2 is actually being relocated to the new facility that we're under construction with right now out on Western to meet OSU needs and the growing neighborhood population out in that area."

Another resident, who lives in a nearby neighborhood of the new location, expressed concern about what noise might be like for this neighborhood.

" ... We just went through the site selection process," Dodson said. "We wanted to make sure that we were more than 1,000 feet from the nearest neighborhood."

Dodson said they have met that goal, with the measurement between the neighborhood and future location at 1,130 feet. Therefore, City officials are confident the noise levels will not be out of the ordinary.

This same resident also asked if the Animal Welfare facility would affect the neighborhood dogs in any negative way. Dodson said the City had not considered this, for it had not been brought up until then, but the City will do research to figure out an answer.

City officials took notes and said they would respond to unanswered questions during the meeting in further discussion.

The City will host an online community discussion 5:30 p.m. Thursday, which can be accessed through the Animal Welfare webpage.