County commissioners voted Monday night to transfer $75,000 to build a new animal shelter from the county fund balance to the DeKalb Animal Coalition, as long as certain conditions are met. Animal coalition members will apparently be in charge of day-to-day operations at the new shelter, which has been partially funded by donations of $75,000 from both the city and the county.
Third District Commissioner Jack Barton made a motion at last month’s meeting of the commission that the county match the $75,000 promised by the city.
"This is a one-time donation of $75,000 by DeKalb County earmarked for the construction of an animal shelter by the DeKalb Animal Coalition. This donation is conditional. The county will not be responsible for the hiring and payroll of any employees relating to the animal shelter, and will not be responsible for the operation of the shelter or the future funds needed to operate the shelter. Also the Coalition will pick up animals for the county when a request is made from the county mayor's office or the sheriff's department at a fee of $100 and $50 for a dead head if they fail to pick up an animal. That will be paid by the county to the coalition for those animals that are requested by the county mayor's office or the sheriff's department," Barton moved.
While the measure was approved on an 8-5 vote, upon reflection, some commissioners voiced concerns over the length of the agreement and the possibility of increased fees for animal pickup.
County Attorney Hilton Conger told the assembly Monday night that he would prepare a memorandum of understanding between the county and the coalition. "There was a question that came up at the (Thursday) workshop about a time limit on the fee for pickup," Conger said. "We do need a memorandum of understanding with the coalition. I've talked with Sue Puckett, their attorney, and they are agreeable to putting a suggested four years, under which they would operate by this arrangement, being $100 for pickup and $50 for a dead head. A suggestion was then made at that time that we would increase that fee by ten percent. There were some other conditions that were mentioned at the time the donation was approved, and that was that we wouldn't be responsible for the hiring or payroll of any employees at the animal shelter. We also want to make it clear that this is a one-time donation. The coalition is meeting on Thursday night, but Sue told me she had contacted their steering committee, and they were agreeable to these terms. With that understanding, I feel comfortable if you want to go ahead and make that budget amendment tonight. Obviously we're not going to hand them a check until they sign our agreement."
The commission voted 9-4-1 to transfer the money to the coalition. Jack Barton, Anita Puckett, Kevin Robinson, Joe Johnson, Jonathon Norris, Larry Summers, Jerry Adcock, Bradley Hendrix, and Wayne Cantrell voted in favor of the measure, while Mason Carter, Betty Atnip, Jeff Barnes, and Jimmy Midgett voted against it. Elmer Ellis, Jr. passed.
The shelter is planned to be constructed on four acres of city-owned land behind Tenneco Automotive on the Sparta Highway. The City of Smithville will enter into a 99-year lease with the Coalition.
