Vicksburg has selected a site for the new animal shelter

The City of Vicksburg has identified a site to build a new animal shelter, and a non-profit is forming to raise funds for the future facility.

“Lots of good things have happened since we talked last,” Marilyn Terry said at a public meeting Thursday evening at the Robert M. Walker Building.

A passionate volunteer, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. appointed Terry to work with City Shelter Supervisor Kacie Lindsey and Community Resource Director Jeff Richardson on shelter plans.

Terry said the quick progress toward a new facility would not be possible without pro bono work from a few local people.

“Wayne Thornton did a cost analysis on the Oak Street property to see if that was feasible, and it was very feasible,” Terry said.

She also recruited attorney Wilson Carroll to assist with organizing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit named The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter.

“It’s a long name, and we did it this way instead of just saying ‘Friends of the Vicksburg Animal Shelter’ because we wanted to make sure it was the city animal shelter,” Terry added.

With the complete name, people will not get this group confused with the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society.

Carroll has filed the paperwork to ensure the non-profit will be established properly. In the meantime, Terry said folks can still give to the ongoing efforts.

“We have opened an account at Bancorpsouth at the main branch, which is downtown,” she said, “and you can deposit any checks or make donations there, or you can mail them.” To mail a donation, send it to The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 820204, Vicksburg, MS 39182.

Until the non-profit status is confirmed, donations are not tax-deductible. The current status is pending.

Danny Wright, the owner of the Oak Street property, is willing to sell the land to The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter for $60,000. The property is the former location of Hampton Air Conditioning. Wright owes money on this property but has only asked for what he owes; he doesn’t want to make a profit from the sale.

If this sale goes through, The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter will then donate the land to the City of Vicksburg to build the shelter. Flaggs and Terry agreed that the non-profit group donating the land to the city will be the best idea.

“They (the City of Vicksburg) have a lot of red tape to go through,” Terry said, “and if we give it as a gift it’d be simpler.”

To speed up the process, the property needs to be leveled, Flaggs said, and he mentioned some names during the meeting that he believes could assist with that.

“Fred Clark, Boo Keyes, Harry Gilliland, Pete Buford, Louis Miller and Dudley Maynord—and tell them I called their name, and whoever gets this here gets the commercial,” Flaggs said, “Free advertising.”

“If we get this property flat, we can expedite our time by two or three months,” he added.

Jeff Richardson and Kacie Lindsey presented a rough sketch of the layout they need for a proper facility. They plan to sit down with an architect and designer to finalize a floor plan for the next meeting update, which is set for April 16.

“I can’t start until I get some property,” Flaggs said. “I got ways to fund it. I think it’ll work.”

At this time, a final cost for this project has not been determined.

Preliminary sketch of the new Vicksburg Animal Shelter.