Common Council approves partial funding for Purdue Equine Specialty Hospital feasibility study

The Shelbyville Common Council approved a funding request Monday night from Purdue University for a feasibility study to expand the services of the Purdue Equine Specialty Hospital.

Bret Marsh, Dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, appeared before the council seeking funding to analyze the current site located at 350 W. Bassett Road. The university will use Hanover Research to study the facility that opened in 2017 and currently offers just surgical services.

“After eight years, it’s time we pause and see what opportunities exist in the future,” said Marsh. “I think this study will determine what the future looks like with additional buildings. We want to add clinical laboratory space. We don’t provide a field service now. We have that in West Lafayette. It’s not done in Shelbyville.

“So this study will tell us what those next steps might be on the hospital footprint and how it figures into the master plan.”

The cost of the feasibility study is $55,500. The council approved $27,750, or half the cost of the study, to be paid for with racino funds. Marsh will appear at the next Shelby County Council meeting on July 15 to seek its financial assistance.

Councilwoman Linda Sanders (photo) was the lone dissenting vote Monday. Councilwoman Betsy Means-Davis was not present at the meeting. The funding request passed 5-1.

Marsh stated the equine hospital currently operates off a budget of $1.6 to $1.7 million. Sanders questioned Marsh about the financial success of the facility, but he did not specifically answer the question.

Neither the city nor county profits financially from the facility. Mayor Scott Furgeson stated he was impressed with Purdue’s master plan that includes the equine hospital and a hefty price tag of $20 million.

The council’s approval Monday does not include any guarantee for future funding. Furgeson said after the meeting he would be hesitant to offer any more funding without some sort of guarantees from Purdue.

“I truly believe with the split of IUPUI and Purdue having a more active role in downtown Indianapolis, I think it gives the equine center a better opportunity to grow and become more of what we want it to be … or what Purdue wants it to be,” said Furgeson during the meeting. “It gives the opportunity for more classes to be held there or more on-hand learning and the veterinary school to expand I hope.”

Marsh agreed the equine hospital is in a prime location to expand services.

“I think there are enormous opportunities,” said Marsh. “Purdue in Indianapolis is continuing to expand. Our College of Veterinary Medicine is looking at opportunities at the Indianapolis campus. And just south of the Purdue Indianapolis campus is the Elanco campus.

“Elanco Animal Health is moving into its global headquarters in October of this year. I think there are opportunities for this facility to be utilized by Elanco and others on that track.”

In other board business Monday:

• Approved a voluntary annexation petition for a 56.73-acre parcel at 1100 Mausoleum Road for a new warehouse and industrial facility for cold storage. The more than $50 million investment will create a 200,000 square foot facility for a new company to Shelbyville and Shelby County. The petition now moves to the Plan Commission later this month.

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