Following the Humane Society of McDonough County's (HSMC) purchase of buildings at 2000 W. Jackson St. Saturday for a new animal shelter, the McDonough County Board unanimously voted at its meeting Wednesday to enter into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) that memorializes an agreement to ensure the continuation of a working partnership and cooperation currently in existence between the Humane Society of McDonough County (HSMC) and the McDonough County Board (MCB).
The property, known as the Chambers Estate and which once housed Prairieland Rentals and other businesses, was purchased for $499,745 by the county humane society to retrofit the existing buildings: a timber-frame, two-story barn and retail/office spaces into a new shelter. According to HSMC President Bonnie Smith-Skripps, the society's first focus will be on developing a plan for renovating the barn for the dog housing area and the retail building (now Munson’s Pool Supplies) for the reception/office area, as well as cat housing.
The MOU with the county outlines that the McDonough County Board agrees to lease and operate as the McDonough County Animal Control Facility, per the guidelines of the Illinois Animal Welfare Act and as licensed/inspected by the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare. The agreement also states that while the HSMC will lease the property and structures to the county for 99 years, the humane society will be the sole owner of this property/structures and they shall exercise all naming rights for the property/structures. Furthermore, the county will have the sole responsibility for paying all utilities and services required for the operation of the animal control facility, including water, electricity, sewage, waste disposal and any other operating expenses of the animal control facility, including, but not limited to, staffing and maintenance. The MCB shall also provide and maintain all necessary and required insurance (i.e., property and personal) for the dayto- day operations of the animal control facility.
The McDonough County Board will use bequest from Richard Yeast, which totals $59,377.58, to purchase cages, kennels, sinks and cabinetry to be installed at the new shelter. Additionally, other memorial funds will be utilized to furnish the animal control facility. The bequest and other memorial funds will not be used for salaries or routine animal control expenses.
In addition to the MOU between the county and the humane society, an updated intergovernmental agreement between the City of Macomb and the county recently went into effect in which 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 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.
The HSMC, which has been raising funds for a new shelter for the last six years, had over $1.24 million in the new shelter building fund to purchase the property. The HSMC will take possession by June 30. From there, they'll flesh out the final plan that will be shared with the general public, and will be the impetus for continued fundraising.
