At Wednesday's County Board meeting, Board member Ken Durkin brought a motion forward to transfer funds from the county's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Account to the Animal Control Memorial Fund to help with the funding for a new animal shelter to replace the county's dilapidated shelter.
The Board voted against an amended motion to transfer $55,244 in interest income from the more than $5 million provided to the county from ARPA. Board members voting 'nay' for the transfer of funds included: Jerry Raby, Clayton Cook, David Cortelyou, Joe Erlandson, Craig Foster, Travis Hiel, Clayton Murphy, Mike Cox, Ryan Litchfield, Jarad Royer, Terry Thompson and Roger Ward. Those voting in favor included Vicky Kipling, Mike Kirby, Dana Walker and Durkin. Chair Eric Blakely abstained. Those Board members absent from Wednesday's meeting included: Larry Aurelio, Jack Lowderman, Allen Henderson and Eric Chapman.
Prior to the vote, Hiel said he didn't believe it was best use of taxpayer's funds to use for the shelter, and he believes the Board should 're-evaluate how we operate the shelter.'
'We keep animals for an awfully long time. The Humane Society should take control over the animals,' he said. 'We keep animals too long and we overburden the shelter.'
Durkin explained the humane society already takes over the care of animals, in addition to finding foster homes to ensure the animals are taken care of and to relieve overcrowding. Durkin also noted that there is a proposed state statute that will not allow shelters to euthanize animals that are healthy. HSMC President Bonnie Smith-Skripps, who was present at Wednesday's meeting, shared with the Board that the Humane Society covers the cost of specialized medical needs of the animals that go beyond routine care (e.g., Parvo treatment, amputations, heart worm treatment, tumor removal).
'How is this overburdening our county?,' Durkin posed back to Hiel.
In a back-and-forth between Board members about the motion, Hiel continued to state he didn't believe this was the best use of 'property tax dollars,' and called the ARPA a 'gift.' Kirby pointed out that ARPA dollars are not taxpayer dollars, and those funds were used to renovate the courthouse, when there were specific guidelines for the funds to help those less fortunate in the county. Kirby added he believed the animal shelter and its inhabitants qualified, and also noted this funding was not a 'gift.'
Durkin originally had requested moving $110,488 in interest income into the Animal Control Memorial Fund. At last Thursday's Human Resources and Planning Committee, the members approved motion, five to three, while the Board's Finance Committee voted three to two against the motion brought forward by Durkin at the committee's March 11 meeting. Durkin amended his motion to half the amount in hopes the full Board would vote in favor of the lesser amount.
'Tonight, the County Board had the opportunity to direct specific funds to purchase operational equipment, including cages, kennels, sinks, cabinetry and more to be installed, utilized, in a new animal control facility that will be constructed by the Humane Society of McDonough County for the benefit of the county,' Durkin said following the vote. 'Even though this particular motion to transfer funds failed, the County Board will continue to ensure a working relationship with the Humane Society and will honor its commitment. McDonough County owes a debt of gratitude to all members of the Humane Society of McDonough County. Furthermore, the Board will continue its mission of operating an animal shelter. The discussion of the shelter at Wednesday's Board meeting was a good thing.
According to Durkin, the McDonough County Board operates an animal shelter to provide for the housing, care and disposition of lost, abandoned, neglected, stray and impounded animals.
'The Board has been accomplishing this from the shelter's current location at 101 E. Tower Road since 1988; however, the Board has not provided any significant funding for the structural needs of the animal shelter facility to the point that the current shelter is in an unsustainable state of disrepair and does not provide a safe work environment,' he added.
The Humane Society of McDonough County (HSMC) building subcommittee is currently working to determine final construction costs, as well as the location for the new shelter. To date, the Humane Society has raised over $1.1 million through its fundraising efforts for the new facility. Furthermore, through an updated intergovernmental agreement between the City of Macomb and the county, the city contributes 50 percent of the operational dollars necessary to pay for two full-time shelter employees (plus benefits), two part-time employees and routine veterinary costs for the shelter's animals. All fees collected from the county's mandated registration program, approximately $90,000$100,000 annually, go directly to shelter operations.
Smith-Skripps noted that their organization has pivoted from their original plan to construct a new facility. Rather than build from the ground up, an existing structure has been identified, but cannot be publicly named at this time, and will be retrofitted/renovated for a new, updated shelter. Smith-Skripps said she wasn't surprised by Wednesday evening's vote, but she remains hopeful that once they begin the work on the new shelter, the county will support it. Regardless, the humane society will continue to move forward on its plans as a new shelter is beyond 'desperately needed.'
'The Board relies tremendously on the support of the City of Macomb, the animal registration fees and the amazing volunteerism from the Humane Society of McDonough County as their critical assistance keeps the shelter operational,' Durkin noted when speaking to the board. “I am confident the HSMC will be successful in its building company endeavor and I am looking forward to the McDonough County Animal Control Facility calling it their home.'
In other business, the Board reappointed three members each to three-year terms on Blandinsville-Hire Fire Protection District (Steve Haney, Lee Ward and Mike Moore) and the New Salem Fire Protection District (Larry Moore, Scott Bagley and Randall Parks); approved a resolution in support of SB 2842 (banning eminent domain for CO2 pipelines to protect landowner rights), with Board member Walker passing on the vote; approved a policy for Alternate Heating Sources-Space Heaters Restriction; and approved interim agreements with Tri-County Solid Waste & Recycling Operations,
