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Butler County Commissioners say it's the fault of the architect and an unrealistic humane society that the new animal shelter is far behind schedule.

Representatives from the Animal Friends Humane Society say it's the architect's fault.

The architect — Hamilton-based Robert Treadon — said late Tuesday, May 20, however, that it's all just part of the process, and the blame shouldn't be shouldered by a single entity.

Progress, it seems — even as recent as Tuesday — is being made on the county's new animal shelter.

Treadon, county Interim Administrator Tim Williams and members of the Animal Friends board met Tuesday to discuss the latest plans for the shelter, which is planned for a site off Princeton Road in Hamilton.

Initial thoughts for the $3.4 million shelter — which will replace the society's 55-year-old facility in Trenton — were much simpler than what was presented to county commissioners when the project got off the ground last summer.

Then issues like a glass atrium entrance, a third housing wing and windows with motorized shades showed up on the plans. Suddenly, the project was more than $2 million — for a total of nearly $5.5 million — over budget.

"I think a lot of the delays that we experienced were a result of the architect. I think (the bid) came back exorbitant," said Commission President Charles Furmon. "They even had Pella windows with the (motorized) blinds inside. I don't have those for my home and they wanted them for a dog shelter."

While Treadon didn't deny the amenities — which he said were requested by both commissioners and the humane society — he said the bid was significantly less than $5.5 million.

It's nearly a year later, and Furmon said he'd be willing to cut ties with the architect and start over despite the fact that would likely push the project back even more.

"There comes a point where we wonder if this is going to continue with the rest of the project," Furmon said. "I'm very disappointed with what's taken place. We can't spend taxpayers' dollars frivolously."

Commissioner Donald Dixon agreed, but he would not go as far as firing Treadon. Dixon said part of the blame should lie with the Animal Friends Humane Society, which he said asked for too much.

Leland Gordon, executive director of the humane society, said there never came a point where he was told an idea couldn't be added.

"It's the responsibility of the architect to know how much money we have," Gordon said.

Still, a lot has changed in just the past few weeks. Commissioners have approved a contract with a company that could begin preparing the land off Princeton Road for construction in the next two weeks.

Treadon said although most of Tuesday's meeting focused on removing $750,000 from current drawings, the shelter will have the same number of kennels.

"Everyone's working toward the same end," Treadon said. "We're trying to meet the needs of the humane society and the county."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

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