After the discovery of mold in the facility earlier this year, the Española Humane Animal Shelter is getting a new roof.
The City of Española received a grant to repair the roof from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration Local Government Division Animal Welfare Fund.
Animal Shelter staff discovered toxic black mold in the dog kennel area during an evaluation for roof repairs, Executive Director Kate Baldwin said. Testing showed stachybotrys charatum and other types of mold of varying degree and intensity present in the air.
The $208,000 grant will cover the mold remediation and roof repairs. The city is responsible for these costs because it owns the property, which means it must pay for facility repair and maintenance.
Baldwin started the discussion about the roof when she attended a council meeting on July 22 to ask the city to repair the building.
The initial proposal for the mold remediation and repair was $600,000, but in September, she updated the city council to tell them the total cost would be about $208,000.
When Baldwin originally approached the council in July, she proposed that the animal shelter could pay for the repairs and eventually purchase the building and a portion of the 15 acres owned by the city next door. District 2 City Councilor Peggy Sue Martinez said she did not think that was the best option because the 15 acres are meant to be used as an expansion site of the wastewater treatment facility.
In a special meeting on Oct. 21, the council voted to allow construction to start on the project.
Councilors voted to formally accept the grant funds from DFA during their Oct. 28 meeting.