New animal control shelter planned

“Wags to Riches” will be the theme for an upcoming event which will help to support the development of a new Union County animal control shelter.

The process for building a new shelter facility took a step forward at last week’s regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners.

The meeting was Friday morning, Feb. 28, at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

The “Wags to Riches” event also was discussed at Friday morning’s county board meeting.

The commissioners on Friday unanimously approved a real estate contract between Union County and the City of Anna. A real estate quit claim deed between the county and city also was approved.

 Approval of the contract and the quit claim deed are steps involved in the process of developing a new animal control shelter.

The county facility is located on city property adjacent to Anna’s now-closed municipal landfill.

The real estate contract approved by the county board involves about 3.6 acres of property where the shelter is located. 

Union County Board of Commissioners chair Max Miller said that approval of the contract does not involve any money changing hands. 

The City of Anna will receive a reduction in fees which are levied to Union County municipalities for the operation of the animal control program. 

Union County administrator Angie Johnson said the city will receive a $3,500 reduction in fees for the next three years.

The county board chairman explained that reductions will be equal to the fair value of the land where the shelter is located.

Johnson said the county will be looking to secure grant funding for construction of a new facility. The cost of a new shelter has not been determined yet. A timetable for construction also has not been established.

Board chairman Miller praised the work which is done by personnel at the animal control shelter during discussion about the project.

The property purchase agreement was on the agenda for a regular meeting of the Anna City Council which was planned Tuesday evening, March 3.

“Wags to Riches”

Board chairman Miller also made note at Friday morning’s meeting about the upcoming “Wags to Riches” event.

The event is planned Saturday evening, March 28, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 near Anna.

Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be furnished by Union County Market.

A silent auction and a 50/50 raffle are planned from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Southern Comfort Band is scheduled to perform from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission will be $20 for adults and $10 for children. 

All of the proceeds generated at “Wags to Riches” will go to the Union County animal control building fund.