Note: This story was updated since originally published to correct Karla Kerns title and there would be a small run for the sheriff's to house K9s.

What started as a meeting to discuss upgrades to the dog shelter ended with a preliminary plan to build a new one, as Sheriff Jeff Paden, Corporal and dog warden Karla Kerns and Todd Carpenter of the Guernsey County Dog Shelter meet with Guernsey County Commissioners Thursday.

Carpenter discussed the bids for fill dirt, topsoil, grass seed and straw to raise an area outside the shelter.  After discussing the bids, Carpenter told the commissioners that he, Paden and Kerns needed to make them away of what was really going on at the shelter. 

"There's a lot of issues with the office building down there that Karla (Kerns) is using for her office," Carpenter said. "We put a lot of money into it here and there just to keep it functional." 

Carpenter said the air conditioning unit went out several years ago, the wood around the window is rotten, there is a wet soft spot estimated to be 2x2 foot in the drywall that is suspected to have mold behind it. 

Other issues include the main building for the shelter floods from the rain, the metal roof is leaking, the structure lacks insulation, the metal doors inside the building are rusted and rotted off the hinges. There are also drain issues which lets water seep in under the door and wooden steps are rotting. 

According to Carpenter, the 24x64 foot building used to be a sawmill and wasn't constructed to handle the needs of a dog shelter.

After the discussion of the many repairs and upgrades that would need, it was a unanimous decision to forego the fill dirt and develop a plan for building a structure that would house the shelter, the dog warden's office and a small run the for the sheriff's office to kennel the  K9s if their handlers go out of town.

The county will be looking for someone who can design the structure and give an estimate to build.

Once the design is complete and the county has a dollar amount, they will work to find funds to build.

"This will take the support of the community to accomplish," Paden said. "We will need will need to hold a fundraising drive." 

Paden also noted that any donations to the project would be greatly appreciated.