Hancock County explores repurposing vacant building for animal shelter expansion or pet supply shop, with community input and Humane Society priority.

Hancock County commissioners are considering future uses for a vacant building at 689 Gas Valley Road, formerly home to the Parks and Recreation Board, with potential plans including expanding the nearby Hancock County Animal Shelter or creating a shelter shop to sell pet supplies. Commission President Eron Chek emphasized community input, while commissioners suggested giving the Jefferson County Humane Society first consideration due to space needs. The county also approved employee payouts for shelter staff transitioning under the humane society’s management, awarded an audit contract, pursued a public nuisance claim, updated tax agreements, revised floodplain fees to exempt single-family homes, adjusted executor fees, hired a new IT administrator for 911 and county systems, and updated emergency planning bylaws.