FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Fayetteville voters are set to decide in the primary whether to approve an $18.1 million bond to fund a new animal services facility.

The current building is over 50 years old and is struggling with issues such as the drainage system.

“Our drainage system is at the end of its life,” said Justine Lentz, superintendent of animal services.

 Lentz said the aging infrastructure makes improvements unavoidable.

“If the bond doesn’t pass, it doesn’t change reality for us. We are still in an aging facility. We are still going to have to make major expensive improvements to this facility or build another facility,” Lentz said.

The high price tag of the building reflects rising construction costs, as well as the necessary materials that would need to be used in a place like an animal shelter.

“Shelters are akin to hospitals, we’re a high-traffic environment.  We do have a lot of disease control and things to worry about. We are constantly cleaning, and when you have an environment like that, you have to have these more durable materials that hold up to the test of time,” said Lentz.

The facility faces other issues too, such as kennels being too small for some dogs and little play space inside for animals. Heavy rains create a muddy environment for the outdoor dog park, making cleanup especially tasking for staff.

Earlier this month, the shelter hosted an input session where community members gave feedback on what they would like to see in a modernized shelter space. Officials said the site for the new shelter has not been chosen yet, but they hope to build the facility on city-owned land in a more visible location to the local community.

In December, city council approved a $180,000 contract with a construction company to begin the planning process for the new building.

Katherine Callaway, a long-term volunteer for the shelter, said voting for the issue would allow for the city service to serve the community better.

“The passage of this bond will be so wonderful for our community and help continue to rescue animals, provide more low-cost spay, neuter and vaccines clinics, ultimately saving more lives,” Callaway said.

Ballots this year will have nine issues for voters to decide on, ranging from city sewage to a new aquatic facility.

Early voting has begun in Washington County and election day is March 3. More information on voting sites can be found here.