The new Fulton animal shelter has made recent progress, Protective Planning and Services Director Les Hudson reported to the Fulton City Council Tuesday night at its regularly scheduled meeting.
One furnace is hooked up, gas has been connected to the heater and floor heater and a bathroom is running, Hudson said.
"It's really going very well," Hudson said. "Those folks are doing remarkably."
The new animal shelter, located on Industrial Drive, will replace the current Garrett Animal Shelter on E. Eighth Street that has been in use for 20 years, but was supposed to be a temporary solution.
The new facility will house up to 30 cats and dogs while giving more room for the animals as well as animal control employees. The city raised about $250,000 in donations in order to break ground on the project, and volunteers have played a role in progressing the shelter.
The new city warehouse project is moving along slowly for the time being due to the cold weather. The contractor, Eldon-based Curtiss, Manes and Schulte Inc., cannot pour concrete walls because it will likely freeze while still wet, City Engineer Greg Hayes said. The concrete footing is complete, however, on the call out building - ground heat has prevented it from freezing.
Workers finished the framing for the solid waste department building and Hayes said he expects siding to be installed as soon as insulation is delivered. The council approved the $6.625 million base bid for the new warehouse facility in September.
"They are doing a good job of continuing on, we just need a bit of warm weather to pour some concrete," Hayes said.
The council voted to have a camera on the construction site to record the project's progression. Council members could have private access, Assistant City Administrator Jerry Sorte said, and the city may be able to keep everything recorded for a time-lapse video.
Sewer-related projects throughout the city continue as well. Hayes said the sewer lining replacement at Ninth and Grand streets should be completed by Thursday, allowing Fulton Middle School buses to go back to their normal ways of dropping off and picking up children. The project came with a $136,000 price tag, which the council granted in December.
Hayes and city officials will hold a pre-construction meeting with Utility Solutions, Inc. - a Kansas City, Kansas company - next Friday to discuss the 2014 Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project. Manholes throughout the city will undergo improvements. Hayes previously told the Fulton Sun that 400 will be sealed and another 45 will be raised. He also said he hopes the manhole improvements will reduce the influx and infiltration to the city's wastewater treatment plant by 25 percent.
Voters approved a $13 million bond issue in April for improvements to the city's wastewater treatment plant. The upgrades are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Hayes said Tuesday that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources must approve aspects of the project like plans for ultraviolet radiation and overflow of stormwater, which must be completed by December 2016.
"We have to get their blessing before we start," Hayes said.
Kathy Holschlag, Fulton's chief financial officer, gave the council an update on the smart grid project that will allow utility customers to view their usage and billing online.
She said about 850 water meters have been installed over six routes. Those meters have been imported into the system, and city officials will ensure the city can read those water meters before installing more.
The council also gave the OK to hire an inmate supervisor. The city has utilized eight inmates who City Administrator Bill Johnson said are "talented, qualified individuals." The inmate supervisor will pick up and drop off inmates daily, and will also stay with inmates working in various locations throughout work hours. The position will pay between $11-$12 per hour, Johnson said.