COLUMBIA — John Shrum, a board member of the Central Missouri Humane Society, told the group Tuesday night that a blueprint for Zootoo.com design plans will be finalized by next month’s meeting.
He said members of the board had a conference call with Zootoo.com CEO Richard Thompson, who is helping to underwrite the shelter's renovation. They agreed upon the part of the plan Thompson is prepared to pay for.
“He was very upbeat," Shrum said. "There is so much optimism now with four minds working together.”
Construction could begin in February, Shrum said.
He said the board is waiting on construction estimates, which Thompson needs to approve. Designs will then be sent to Peckham and Wright Architects, Inc.
"It ultimately becomes 'let's take this out and let's add this in,'” Shrum said. “That’s what our last conversation was about. That part was just very positive, so we can get this thing going.”
Once the plans are solidified, he said the board will talk to city officials and seek a permit.When the design is accepted and a permit is granted, the shelter will begin the process of breaking ground.
This is the second plan under consideration after the Humane Society won a $1 million makeover last spring in a Zootoo.com competition.
There has been misunderstanding between the board and Thompson over the design. Both had an idea of what they wanted the design to be, but the first plan was not what everyone visualized, Shrum said.
"It is like a Christmas list," he said. "If you harken back to when you were a kid, you went through a catalog and put everything together that you wanted … and Santa shows up and you didn’t get everything you wanted. I think that is now where we are.
"We have our Christmas list together, and it is coming together very nicely. I am just so optimistic about what we have.”