Clinton County Fiscal Court, in hopes of alleviating some problems at the Tri-County Animal Shelter, opted to hire a coordinator to manage volunteer work and other associated work that needs to be done at the facility.

Deputy Judge/Executive Joy Armstrong told the court that four persons had applied. At least one of the applicants, along with another volunteer who wished to help, was on hand at the meeting and addressed the court about several issues pertaining to the job, including some areas of concern that needed to be addressed to help the shelter meet standards and provide better service.

Janet Brummett of Albany and Peyton Booher of Burkesville spoke to the court, both saying they would volunteer as coordinator or just to assist with the position.

Following some recent adverse publicity that went viral on social media, the court opted to advertise for a coordinator position to coordinate volunteer efforts at the shelter. They also voted to continue to allow volunteers, but added stipulations they only be at the shelter during normal business hours and while a shelter manager or employee is on duty.

When the discussion on the coordinator position first began, Armstrong noted that in recent weeks, since photos were posted of Facebook at the shelter, the county had dealt with “activists, rescue people, those wanting to adopt, etc.”

Judge Armstrong, in recommending the coordinator be paid a certain amount, but only on a 96 hour per month arrangement, with no benefits. It was noted that if the position was strictly volunteer, and not paid, the county may have no control of their duties.

Brummett indicated that the work of a coordinator went beyond just things like scheduling times for volunteer work, but it needed to be someone to work with organizations, the community, and funding sources, including adoption programs, spay and neutering availability, seeking grants and so forth. “We would like to set up a program this county could be proud of,” she said.

Armstrong also said that other than the Humane Society which has already made a visit to the shelter, an animal activist group has made an “Open Records” request about the animal shelter records, which could date back to the time the shelter first opened. “The problem is not going to go away,” she added, noting the issue had also been reported to the state veterinarian.

Although physically in Clinton County, the shelter, by name and legal description, is the Tri-County Animal Shelter, a joint venture-including funding with both Cumberland and Wayne counties.

Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong noted that over a period of times, Clinton County had received 25 animals at the shelter, Cumberland County 16 and Wayne County well over 100 at a time brought to the shelter.

He suggested the contract between the three counties should be reviewed, since each county is paying one-third each, but one county has by far the bulk of animals housed.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle and others agreed with Armstrong’s assessment and said all magistrates should get a copy of the original contract to review and possibly take action on between now and May 15 of next year, when the current contract period expires.

A final option which no one really wants, would be to simply eliminate the shelter altogether and begin taking animals elsewhere.

At the conclusion of discussing the issue, magistrate Hershell Key made the motion to employ Booher as the volunteer coordinator at a rate of 96 hours per month at $8 per hour with no benefits, with Brummett to act as a non-paid assistant. The stipulation that the job was temporary and subject to termination at any point was also added in the motion, which passed by unanimous toe.

In a separate issue pertaining to the shelter, it was noted that some donations to help out the shelter have been received over the past few weeks. Magistrate Ricky Craig made a motion to set up a separate animal shelter account, earmarked for use for the shelter only and coordinated by County Treasurer Tuesday Davis. The motion passed unanimously.

(A separate article on the new shelter volunteer coordinator and assistant will be published in an upcoming issue of the Clinton County News.)

The next regular meeting of Clinton County Fiscal Court is scheduled for August 18 at 5 p.m.