Animal shelter bids go over budget

Parish may pay extra or cut costs

Thursday, December 02, 2004

By Karen Turni Bazile

St. Bernard/Plaquemines bureau

Construction bids accepted for the new St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter came in about $90,000 more than the budgeted amount, and government officials are trying to decide whether they should trim the project or pay the extra money.

MDI Construction Inc. submitted the lowest bid of $837,900, Parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez said. The proposed shelter will feature more room for animal containment, improved office space, and areas for surgical and medical procedures.

Chief Administrative Officer Danny Menesses said the bid hasn't been accepted because officials are considering whether the project can be financed at the higher level or whether parts of the construction can be trimmed for cost savings.

Once the low bid is accepted, construction could start in 30 to 45 days and would take about a year, Public Works Director Clyde Martin said.

The shelter will be built using a portion of about $6 million in sales tax bond proceeds, and money provided by a private donation for the project from a deceased local resident's estate, totaling $200,000, Menesses said.

Officials said they hope the larger, more visible and visitor-friendly shelter will increase the number of adoptions.

"We are always accepting more donations from the community for the shelter," Menesses said. Shelter officials have said they hope to add amenities to the shelter if more money becomes available.

The parish financed more than $100,000 in drainage and site-preparation work last year through a state Rural Development Grant. That first phase installed drainage and culverts, as well as paved parking lots and driveways to provide access to the land for workers building the new shelter, which will be in Chalmette across from the current one on Agriculture Street and Old Paris Road, a service road set back from the four-lane highway.

To get ideas for the shelter design, architect Edye Conkerton and shelter Director Ceily Trog visited newly built veterinary centers in the area and met with a consultant paid by the Friends of the Animal Shelter group.

The new shelter will have specially treated floors and flushable trenches behind the animal cages to make the shelter easier to clean and maintain and to give people a better and more pleasing view of the animals up for adoption.

The new site will have a separate processing area to treat and inspect animals when they are brought to the shelter, and it will include an enclosed area with special cages to let people drop off stray animals they find when the shelter is closed.

Karen Turni Bazile can be reached at kturni@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3835.