OCEAN CITY – The Worcester County Humane Society received a pleasant surprise this week from the Mayor and Council when it granted $60,000 to renovate the building.
According to Public Works Director Hal Adkins, funding was set aside in July of 2006 by the Mayor and City Council at the time. There was $60,000 allocated in an account titled “Humane”, which was supposed to be used as seed money to design and relocate the Worcester County Humane Society.
“I don’t see the building going anywhere anytime soon,” Adkins said. “In the meantime, I happen to be the guy that built it in 1989, and we really haven’t put much time or effort into the upkeep.”
Adkins read out a list of repairs and maintenance needed at the Humane Society, such as stripping the roof of shingles, repair rotted plywood, install new felt and ice/water shield and re-shingle the roof.
Also, replace damaged gutters and downspouts, replace damaged and non-operable windows, repair rusted out kennel cage piping, remove and replace damaged drywall ceiling, repair the glass front door, repair or replace rusted out interior door panels, replace HVAC condenser unit, and painting.
“There are a number of other things I have included in a laundry list that I am trying to put beneficial use of those funds to renovate and bring the facility up to snuff,” Adkins said.
Council Secretary Mary Knight made a motion to use the $60,000 from the 2006 budget to renovate the Humane Society building and the council voted unanimously to approve. Any excess funds will be returned to the General Fund.