By Bonnie Culverhouse
Nobody really knows the age of the Minden Animal Shelter, but everyone agrees, it’s time for a new one.
At the beginning of September, City of Minden will advertise for bids on the 1,800 square ft. building (under roof), around half of which is offices, space for 10 inside canine kennels – twice the number as the current shelter – and a room for cats.
“The architectural design is already complete on it, and our preliminary estimates are anywhere from $350,000 to $400,000,” said Building Official Brent Cooley. “We’ve already had a pre-bid meeting.”
The entire complex will be around 2,700 square feet and includes porches, a yard area, common space for possible adoption meet and greets and five outside kennels that are for temporary holds, which are animals that may be ill or should be kept separate from the others for a variety of reasons.
Cooley said the new facility will be built next to the old one and when it is complete, the old one will “go away.” There will be a completely new foundation, drainage system and, thanks to the “Pet Mayor” fund raiser last May, there will be an air conditioning/heating system for the animals.
One of the biggest issues for the current shelter is drainage, and with the new facility, that will go away, also.
“When we had that meeting with the contractors, that’s one thing we talked about,” Cooley said. “I told them all that property has been built up around the shelter for 70 years. Everything is draining down to the middle where the shelter is. We’ve got to get the water away from the building. It’s going to take quite a bit of dirt work, but where we’re putting the building is kind of on a high spot.”
Cooley said there is a driveway that goes through the shelter from the gates off Ewell Park Street to the dirt pit and old landfill used by the Public Works Department. Access is now made from McMullen Street, Cooley said.
“There will just be one access from the Ewell Street Park entrance gates, and that back entrance will be cut off,” he said. “Our driveway will not be beat up so bad anymore.”
