CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – For six years, talks of a new library and animal shelter have been underway. After years of waiting, the Montgomery County Government finally broke ground on the site Friday afternoon.

“We feel like on the north side of town, there’s a big gap in some of these services that we’ve been offering,” County Mayor Wes Golden told Clarksville Now. “We’re excited to see the whole community use these facilities for decades to come.”

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County Animal Control and Care Director, Dave Kaske, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County Library Director, Christina Riedel, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County Library Director, Christina Riedel, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

Montgomery County government officials broke ground on the construction site for the future location of the new library and animal shelter in north Clarksville, March 22, 2024. (Jordan Renfro)

The new Montgomery County Animal Care and Control and the North Clarksville-Montgomery County Library Branch will be built on the same site at 435 Jordan Road.

According to previous Clarksville Now reports, the library is estimated to be around 16,000 square feet, and the Animal Control Center is estimated to be a little around 24,000 square feet.

The Animal Control Center will include dog and cat kennels with an interior and exterior design. The two portions of the kennel will be separated by a garage door, which is expected to be opened the majority of the time.

Six years in the making

In 2018, the county approved the purchase of property for the library on Jordan Road for construction, and by 2022, the designs were mostly complete.

Progress has been slow since the purchase. Funding for the library branch was put on hold in 2020 due to the county’s economic concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It was considered for re-inclusion in the 2021-22 budget but again put on pause. When the library was considered again for the FY23 budget, proposed funding was reduced from the original $16.5 million to $10 million.

As with the library, the new Animal Control facility has been in the works for quite some time. Construction on the facility was halted in 2020 due to issues with the property. Later, the county decided to place both facilities on the same property.

Both facilities are expected to open in fall 2025.

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