Architect outlines phased plan and $150,000 pre‑phase to expand Lovington animal shelter capacity

Dave Williams, an architect with RMKM Architecture and the project team, presented a multi‑phase plan for a new Lovington animal protection services facility and urged the commission to begin with a smaller pre‑phase to make near‑term improvements.

Williams said the full buildout discussed in prior planning could be about $18 million but proposed breaking it into manageable steps. “Back in December 2024 … that big project is gonna be about 18,000,000. But we can actually take that down into some smaller pieces,” he told the commission, describing a pre‑phase that would include site and utility work (roughly $150,000) and two modular kennel units (close to $500,000). He said the two modular buildings would contain about 10 kennels each and increase winter and quarantine capacity, enabling the city to hold animals longer for rescues and improving disease‑control measures.

The presentation noted the selected general contractor, Artisans Guild, had begun preliminary grading and staking and that the modular kennels would be manufactured out of state by Horizon Structures. Commissioners asked operational questions about capacity and timing; Williams and city staff said the site work could start in late summer with substantial completion in early fall only if funding and procurement proceed. The commission did not take formal action on funding at the meeting but expressed appreciation for the phased approach and expected future agenda items to address appropriations and procurement details.