Rain delays construction of Yuba City animal shelter
The start of construction at the site of a future regional animal shelter on Garden Highway was delayed Monday because of rain.
Work on an access road and early work on the foundation of the building are expected to get under way on the next dry weekday, likely later this week.
"We can't work with this rain," said George Musallam, public works director for Yuba City. "It's just a matter of 'wait and see,'"
The shelter project, which has been planned under a joint powers authority between Yuba City, Sutter County and Live Oak, had been scheduled to break ground in late September.
Disagreements about staffing the new facility put off the start date by about five weeks. But after eight years of difficult talks between representatives of the three jurisdictions, "A month shouldn't make that much difference," Musallam said.
The new facility, which is expected to cost $5 million to build, will replace the existing shelter nearby on Second Street.
Musallam said completion of the project depends largely on the winter weather. Officials hope to move the county's animals into the new building sometime between early summer and early 2014.
Three or four weeks of dry weather before the first heavy rains would be ideal, Musallam said, so workers could build the access road and pour concrete for the foundation.
Initial estimates for the shelter plan, which was developed about six years ago, came in at $3 million.
The cost for materials and labor have since risen considerably.
Yuba City, which is paying 66 percent of the cost of the new shelter, is the lead agency for construction. Yuba City officials are expected to assume authority for operations, too, once construction is completed.
Musallam said Monday's ground soaking has a silver lining.
"It's not what we asked for, but it will make it easier to move the dirt," he said.
CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4781. Find her on Facebook at /ADnpasternack or on Twitter at @ADnpasternack.
