St. Paul – A long-running water problem at the St. Paul Animal Shelter could finally have a more permanent fix, with the County of St. Paul approving just over ,000 worth of drainage work at the site.

The issue first came before council in June after heavy rainfall, when the shelter reported excess water and drainage problems around the property and asked the County for help finding a solution. Council directed Public Works to inspect the site and return with options and costs.

Public Works has since met with the shelter and developed a plan to move water away from the buildings.

Ditch, culvert and fill proposed

The work would include creating a ditch alongside the existing chain-link fence leading to a bell hole, then installing a culvert running southeast to the existing ditch along Range Road 105.

Public Works also plans to bring in clay and fill to slightly raise the existing parking pad so water sheds away from the buildings and toward the new drainage system.

During the meeting, Director of Public Works Scott Jeffery told council the work should address the underlying issue.

“This work will alleviate the problem at the site,” Jeffery said.

The County has supported the animal shelter in other ways, including gravel and waste disposal. That led to some discussion around the council table about the amount of ongoing municipal support provided to the nonprofit organization.

However, councillors also recognized this particular project is intended as a one-time drainage repair rather than another temporary response to the water problem.

Timing the work with Range Road 105

Public Works recommended completing the project in 2027 alongside the planned Range Road 105 construction immediately across Highway 29.

Having County equipment already working roughly 200 yards away would give crews easier access to equipment and fill material and make completing the shelter project more efficient.

Council ultimately approved approximately $7,031 in County work toward the drainage project.

The St. Paul Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization, owns the shelter property.

Once completed, the drainage work is intended to provide a longer-term solution by directing water away from the shelter buildings and parking area rather than continuing to deal with excess water as problems arise.