GLOVERSVILLE - The city's $30,000 animal holding facility has been unfinished and unused for more than a year, and it doesn't look as if it will be finished anytime soon, city officials said this week.
The boarded-up facility near the city Transit Department was built a few years ago by Department of Public Works employees using $10,000 in city funds and a $20,000 private donation for the project.
The shell of the structure was completed - it is missing windows, interior plumbing and electrical work - but work stopped when money ran out, DPW Director Robert Abel said.
According to several city officials, the facility probably won't be completed any time in the near future.
"They have no money to finish it," Abel said. "Any discussion has been put on the back burner. It would take $10,000 or $15,000 to finish it."
Abel said the additional money is needed to put plumbing, heating and other necessities in the building.
He noted that the original specifications for the building called for a cost of more than $100,000, but it could be finished for less than half that cost.
Second Ward Councilman John Castiglione said he does not foresee putting any money in the 2011 budget for the project.
"Unfortunately, there hasn't been the money for it," he said. "It's basically in limbo right now until the time comes when the city has the extra funds to put into it."
Councilman-at-Large James Robinson agreed. He said perhaps the city could search for a grant or other outside funding to help pay for it but, absent of that, it does not appear any money will appropriated for the project.
Robinson added he does not think demolishing the building would make sense, either.
"It's a very nice building," he said. "Hopefully, we can use it in the future."
Mayor Dayton King said with elections for the Common Council coming up, it's possible some new council members might want to pursue the project.
"We have to weigh the cost," he said. "Moving forward, I don't want to see us start a project we know we can't complete."
