The county commission gave supporters of a new animal shelter something to cheer about Monday night after voting 8-5 to appropriate $75,000 toward construction of the proposed facility. But it took roll calls on two separate motions before the commission could muster the eight votes needed for passage.
The first vote failed 7-5 with one abstention but passed the second time 8-5.
Members of the DeKalb Animal Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals, who will be running the new shelter, had been pushing for a financial commitment from the county for months.
Although the county’s pledge of $75,000 will only fund half the estimated construction costs of $150,000, the City of Smithville has also budgeted $75,000 for the project.
“We really want to thank our county commissioners for getting behind this. I know it was a hard vote for them. They have a lot of different things on their agenda but this is something that will benefit our whole county for years to come. We’re very grateful that they came through for us,” said Marsha Darrah, President of the Coalition in a statement to WJLE after the meeting.
The shelter is to be built on a four acre site near the solid waste transfer station, behind Tenneco off of Highway 70 east. The property, owned by the Smithville Industrial Development Board, has been deeded to the city, which will enter into a 99 year lease with the Coalition, a 501 (c) 3 charity organization.
“We’re excited about this. It is long overdue and we’re going to get started immediately”, said Sue Puckett Jernigan, a member of the Coalition in a statement to WJLE after the meeting.
“The shelter will be 1,752 square feet and then there will be some runs outside. We have basic plans but we’ve got to get an engineer or an architect to finalize those (plans). It’ll (project) have to be bid. We now have the money to do the shell of the building and the coalition will equip the inside completely which is going to cost about as much as the building,” she added.
The coalition has already raised $13,000 through various fundraisers and more events are planned in the weeks ahead. Anyone who wishes to volunteer or donate funds may contact members of the coalition.
The goal of the coalition is for the county to have a permanent and safe location for neglected, abandoned and abused animals; to provide an alternative low-kill policy so these animals receive medical attention, reduce overpopulation, and be cared for until they can be placed in permanent homes.
During Monday night’s meeting, Third District Commissioner Jack Barton moved that the county allocate the $75,000 but with conditions. “This is to be 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 shelter and will not be responsible for any operation of the shelter or for the future funds needed to operate the shelter. Additionally, 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 for a fee of $125 if it results in a successful pickup or $75 if it’s a dead head. If they don’t successfully find the animal. The money is to paid by the county to the coalition for those animals requested (to be picked up) by the county mayor’s office and sheriff’s department only,” said Barton.
Fifth District Commissioner Jerry Adcock offered a second to Barton’s motion.
But Sixth District Commissioner Betty Atnip raised objections to providing funding for this purpose when the county has other needs that are not being fully addressed. ” I think what the coalition is about is an honorable thing. They are the voices for the animals that have no voice. But this county commission is for the people of the county and we told them (people) a month ago that we had to have money to run this county on (tax increase). The coalition was not in our budget. We had heads of our departments that asked us for more employees to run their offices more efficiently and we flat turned them down. We said no. We have had places that have asked us to build them a fire hall. We told them no we did not have the money for that. So if we don’t have the money to fulfill what the county is asking for, how do we have the money for an animal coalition that is a non-profit organization?. And if we are going to give this non-profit organization a donation are we going to start giving every non-profit organization that comes in front of this commission money?. That’s where I stand in the sixth district. I represent them. I have a problem with telling the people that we had to have money to run the county on and then not fulfilling our county obligations before filling them for an organization,” said Atnip.
When the vote was taken on Barton’s motion, Commissioners Bradley Hendrix, Jerry Adcock, Larry Summers, Jonathan Norris, Kevin Robinson, Jack Barton, and Anita Puckett voted in favor. Jimmy Midgett, Jeff Barnes, Elmer Ellis, Jr., Mason Carter and Betty Atnip voted in opposition. Wayne Cantrell abstained. Second district commissioner Joe Johnson was absent.
After a question was raised by Coalition member Sue Puckett Jernigan about how an abstention is considered under Roberts Rules of Order, a recess was called to give County Attorney Hilton Conger an opportunity to research it.
After the recess, Conger reported that an “abstention” essentially counts as a “no” vote.
Cantrell then asked if he could change his vote. “Not after the vote had been taken and announced,” replied Conger.
Barton said he would then restate his motion for another vote.
Larry Summers asked if taking another vote was “proper procedure”?
“It doesn’t sound proper to me,” said Atnip. ” It’s already been up and voted on. Just because something doesn’t go the way somebody wanted it, we’re going to keep changing it?” she asked.
But according to Conger it was proper for the commission to entertain a new but different motion on the same issue. “He (Barton) can change his motion and introduce a new motion but not the same motion,” said Conger.
Except for a couple of changes (noted by *) Barton’s second motion was identical to the first. “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,” said Barton.
Seventh district member Kevin Robinson offered a second to the motion.
Again Atnip voiced her objections. ” We increased your (peoples) taxes by sixteen cents. We told them we had to have it to run this county on. We have told department heads no that have asked for other employees, part time and full time, which would have benefitted people in this county and given them jobs. We looked those people in the eyes and we told them no we did not have the money. In another area for the safety of their property and their lives, we told people no to a fire hall, we do not have the money. Each and every time when we are approached with something, we tell the people no we don’t have the money for it. Now we have a non- profit organization coming and asking this county for money and all of a sudden we’re going to find $75,000 to give away? Then we didn’t need sixteen cents (tax increase) to begin with. We only needed fourteen cents. I think that is doing a majority of the people wrong. It’s a majority of the people that put us in these seats. Not a handful of people. That’s the way I believe,” said Atnip.
“I’ll also speak to the fact that I’m representing my district and my district seems to be in favor of this though I don’t take a poll every time I try and decide on an issue,” said Barton in response to Atnip.
Barton’s second motion was adopted on an 8-5 vote. This time, Wayne Cantrell joined Bradley Hendrix, Jerry Adcock, Larry Summers, Jonathan Norris, Kevin Robinson, Jack Barton, and Anita Puckett in voting for it. While Jimmy Midgett, Jeff Barnes, Elmer Ellis, Jr., Mason Carter and Betty Atnip again voted in opposition.