Must vacate present building in August, 2013
by Maralyn Woodbury
Rescue Dog Transporter
As some of you may or may not know, Clinton County Animal Control must vacate their building in August, 2013. The County Board of Commissioners were notified in July, 2012 by the owner of that building they would have to vacate by then.
I am providing some facts for you to consider what the options are:
1) The county has discussed building a new shelter on existing property with the Jail and Mid Michigan District Public Health. The cost of this is approximately $ 1.3 million dollars.
2) The county has been in discussion with Capital Area Humane Society in joining them in housing the animal control pets.
3) There will be a start up cost of $400,000 from Clinton County in capital costs for them to make appropriate construction additions to their facility for the purpose of contracting with Clinton County. However, this will not be the only cost involved. This will require a signed 20 year contract with them by Clinton County.
4) By pursuing a contract with the Humane Society, the County would realize a savings of $956,000. When put in perspective however, building our own shelter would stand around a 50 year building life versus $400,000 start money that is only a 20 year contract.
5) $400,000 would equal $20,000/year on a 20 year contract.
What will happen down the road, if either party wants to break the contract say in 5 years? If that should happen, how much money would it cost Clinton County to build a shelter down the road if this should happen? If the contract would break at some point, would Clinton County get money refunded to them for the years the contract had left?
6)` The Commissioners have a report for operational cost which is $247,586 versus $248,076 for the Humane Society. Not much difference.
7) It should also be noted that the County has already budgeted the $1.3 million in their budget to build.
8) If contracting, after hours of animal control officers, the animals will have to be picked up by police, deputies and/or other options which will mean that the animals will be transported to the Humane Society by other than animal control officers, who are use to handling these pets. Do we want this for our pets? Also, this will mean travel time and gas expense to the Humane Society possible taking an officer off the road.
9) What happens to our pets at the Humane Society and how long will they keep a pet if not adopted? Do they work with rescue groups to try to have them fostered with a group?
I urge you to read this information and refer to it on the Clinton County.org website under minutes of Board meetings. This is an important issue for everyone in Clinton County.
Transitions should be made as quickly and quietly for the pets as they are scared, frightened and are missing their family members. Do we want this for our pets?
Please contact the Commissioners with your views and let’s keep the shelter right here in St Johns.
Commissioners are:
Chairperson
Robert Showers rshowers1@hotmail.com (517) 669-373
Vice Chairperson
Dave Pohl dwpohl@yahoo.com (989) 593-2688
Members
Anne Hill ahill695@hotmail.com
Bruce DeLong bruce@migsigns.com (989) 224-1936
Jack Enderle jackend@frontier.com (517) 669-9355
Larry Martin mlmartin35@frontier.com (989) 834-2644
Adam Stacey adamstacey@cablespeed.com (517) 339-6919
Feel free to send us a letter at mail@sjindy.com or a letter to the editor at the Lansing State Journal.
The next meeting of Finance and Personnel Committee will be at 11 a.m. on December 13, 2012 in Board of Commissioners Room, 2nd Floor Courthouse
Remember, we are the voice for all furry friends regardless who owns them.