Journal-News.com

The extended delay on the construction Butler County's new animal shelter is a result of miscommunication, unrealistic expectations and unfulfilled promises, officials say.

But that may all come to an end as construction crews begin to mobilize for the start of what is now expected to be a 10- to 12-month project.

In November 2006, county voters approved a 0.5-mill levy to build a state-of-the-art animal shelter in Hamilton. Taxpayers were charged a one-time fee of $15.30 per $100,000 of home value, but their money has sat in a separate fund ever since, accruing interest — by Ohio law — for the county's general fund.

Commissioners broke ground in May 2007, but there has been little progress since on the site off Princeton Road. Meanwhile, local strays continue to be euthanized at the 55-year-old shelter in Trenton because of cramped and disease-ridden conditions.

Commissioners said they handed most of the responsibility over to the project's architect, Hamilton-based Treadon and Associates, and the Animal Friends Humane Society, which operates the shelter.

Instead of coming back to county officials with a building plan worth the $3.4 million raised by the levy, architects presented drawings that would have cost $2 million more.

However, Robert Treadon said the concept — although it included some amenities — was significantly lower than that. He also said all parties involved share equal responsibility in the project's future.

"I think the people in the shelter (Animal Friends) didn't have any idea of what $3.4 million would buy them," said Commissioner Donald Dixon. "It's like comparing a Mercedes with a Volkswagen, and of course, they picked the Mercedes."

Changes were rapidly occurring to original plans, but without the knowledge of commissioners. And Animal Friends officials said they were never told "no." "Every time I wanted something added, the architect said it would still be $3.4 million," said Leland Gordon, executive director of the society. "Leland is just a guy who runs an animal shelter. I'm not a contractor."

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