Bibb Co. Residents Angry About New Animal Shelter Location

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County is getting a new animal shelter, but people who live nearby say they just don’t want it there. County officials are moving forward with the plans for the new Macon-Bibb County Animal Welfare site, but residents feel they didn’t get a chance to tell them toput it somewhere else.

“It’s a very quiet, peaceful neighborhood,” Wayne Jones said.

Jones and his family have lived off Fulton Mill Road for almost forty years. He wants to retire here, but he’s concerned about the new animal shelter that will be right across the street from his home.

“We don’t think this property right here should be used to facilitate what might be a nuisance in our community,” Jones said.

He’s worried about an increase in traffic and noise. He’s also concerned about what the shelter plans to do with the animal waste.

“You’re coming in the middle of a neighborhood with a lot of families and it’s just not the proper place for it to be,” he said. “Just doesn’t make any good sense whatsoever”

Bibb County plans to build the new animal shelter on 10 acres of county owned land and it will be located about half a mile off Fulton Mill Road. Even though residents say they don’t like this spot, the county says putting the shelter here will benefit the community.

“This is just going to impact it a lot better and people can come out here, enjoy the community, enjoy the shelter out here,” Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen said.

Commissioner Allen says he’s gotten a lot of complaints from residents about the new location. He plans to hold a town hall meeting to answer any questions. Residents say that should have happened long before any decisions were made.

“It’s kinda backwards, I think, to say we’re going to do it now, what do you think of it, rather than saying what do you think of it before we do it,” Jones said.

Jones says he’s willing to take legal action if it comes down to it and other residents say they may start a petition. Commissioner Allen says he’s holding a town hall meeting for everyone in the community next Monday at 7 pm. 41 NBC will keep you updated on where he plans to hold it.