Architect outlines phased animal‑shelter plan, requests modular kennels and site work funding

Dave Williams, an architect with RMKM, told the Lovington City Commission that the city’s animal protection services project can be built in manageable phases rather than as a single $18 million build. He described a pre‑phase focused on site and utility work estimated at about $150,000 and two modular kennel units that together are “close to $500,000,” according to Williams.

Williams said the proposal separates a large “phase 1” building into smaller components: a barn or clinic portion that could cost roughly $1.8 million, later kennel expansion (estimated at about $6.8 million in an earlier program budget) and a surgical/quarantine area in a subsequent phase. He identified Artisan’s Guild as the selected general contractor and Horizon Structures of Pennsylvania as the preferred modular manufacturer.

Commissioners asked how many animals the modular units would hold. A shelter representative explained that each of the two buildings contains 10 kennels (20 total), that large dogs would use one kennel each but smaller or medium dogs could be housed two to three per unit, and that the heated, cooled units and solid walls would help quarantine and disease control. Williams and staff said the modular kennels are manufactured out of state and would arrive in late August for assembly on a concrete pad; the site grading and staking are already in progress.

No formal funding action was taken during the presentation; Williams and staff said future phases would depend on subsequent appropriations and grant funding. The commission expressed appreciation for the phased approach and asked staff to return with cost, timeline and funding details ahead of any procurement or appropriation decisions.