WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected today to pass a resolution appointing four applicants to the Trumbull County Dog Pound Advisory Committee.

With those approvals, the advisory committee will have seven members, allowing it to begin the process of reviewing recommendations on the placement of the dog pound, as well as work with the commissioners in finding ways to fund it.

The candidates commissioners are expected to vote on include Amanda Hebert, a longtime activist who continues to volunteer with the pound; Bethany Cluckey, CEO of the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County; May Brown, a volunteer for Cats Are People Too; and Jessica Purvey, a founder and director of The Canine Classroom.

Those previously selected to serve on the advisory committee are Michelle Goss, Trumbull County’s Dog Warden; Jason Cooke of The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project; and Robert Segar, a member of Voices of the Pound.

The advisory committee will provide research and input to the commissioners on the best place to locate the pound and ways to raise funds for building the facility.

“They are going to help us by providing recommendations on the best location for the pound,” Commissioner Tony Bernard said during Tuesday’s workshop meeting.

The commissioner said there has been a debate about the location.

The proposed pound has, up until recently, been expected to be built on property in Vienna donated to the county by the Animal Welfare League in 2023. Architectural drawings of the new pound were made based, in part, on that Vienna location.

The cost previously had been projected to be between $3.3 million and $4 million based on architectural plans established in 2024.

“There are some people questioning whether that is the best location,” Bernard said. “They are questioning whether there is room for future expansion. It is never bad to have other people look at it and listen to options.”

The advisory committee also is expected to look at ways to pay for the building and operations of the site.

“We are looking at raising donations and obtaining grants,” he said.

Bernard has been vocal in his opposition to using general fund money to pay for the facility. KO Consultants, a firm hired by the county to do grant writing, has been tasked by Bernard to contact state representatives to determine if there are state or federal funds that may be obtained for the dog pound.

“I don’t have a time frame for when this is done,” Bernard said. “I don’t want to be rushing into anything.”