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Animal Shelter Discussion Continues in McCracken Co.

nhandler, Wikimedia Commons

The McCracken County Fiscal Court voted Monday night to hire an architectural firm to assess costs for a new animal shelter after shelter supporters asked the court to act on the issue.

Judge Executive Van Newberry said the cost to hire an architect will run between $10,000 and $25,000 .

Deputy judge Doug Harnice says voting board membership and contract costs are persisting catch points in negotiations with the humane society, but a move needs to be made on the issue.

“If we’re not going to make a decision tonight on the new building then they would like to see it move to a new court,” Harnice said.

Newberry says the burden of operating an animal shelter should be on a private entity, not on volunteers.

“I do not think that this fiscal court or any fiscal court can rely on volunteer labor, volunteer staff. You just cant,” Newberry said. “If this can not be done by the taxpayers, it probably shouldn’t be done. It should be done by private business like somebody like the humane society.”

 

The fiscal court and the McCracken County Humane Society have been locked in negotiations for a contract to handle animals brought in by county animal control officers. The humane society will allow the county a non-voting board member and charge two hundred thirty-five thousand dollars annually to the county for housing their animals.

 

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