yranaivo@journalnet.com

SHELLEY - The city is planning to build a new animal shelter on the east side of the railroad tracks along U.S. Highway 91.

City Clerk Sandy Gaydusek said Shelley saved $50,000 in state-allocated funds during the past five years to build the shelter, which will replace the existing one at 155 E. Pine St.

The state funds are allocated to counties for building upgrades and improvements. The new shelter is estimated to cost between $40,000 and $50,000 to build.

Gaydusek said the current shelter, which has been around for more than 30 years, is located in the middle of a residential area and has often received noise complaints from local residents. She did not have any details about the square footage or capacity of the new shelter.

The new shelter is expected to be built before the end of next spring. The property that the shelter is slated to be built upon is currently leased to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Gaydusek said the city, which leased the property to the USDA a few years ago, is in the process of re-negotiating the lease so the federal agency can provide property space to the shelter. She said the shelter is slated to be built on a portion of the USDA's parking space.