Animal Shelter Contract Approved: BG/WC Shelter Gives County Two More Years, Then Must Be On Own

County Approves Agreement With BG/WC Humane Society With Added Amendment

Darren Doyle, story:
Magistrates voted to partner with Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society for another year at today's fiscal court meeting; however, BG/WC asked for an amendment to be added to the agreement. According to Judge Wil Cannon, the BG/WCHC said they would sign the agreement under the condition that Edmonson County was prepared to run their own shelter within 12 to 24 months. 

"By law, we either have to have our own shelter or contract this out," he said. "When we first asked for other counties to give us a bid on housing our animals, they are the only ones that even submitted a bid. No one else would even talk to us."

Cannon said that was the main purpose the county recently purchased property on Veterans Memorial Highway.

"We don't have a choice on this," he said. "We're saving every spare dollar we have in order to be able to build this. The Warren County Shelter has given us another two years to get this going and we have to prepare to do that."

Cannon read the requested amendment to the court and asked for a motion to approve, which passed. The amendment stated:

​" 11.) At this time Edmonson County is diligently working on plans to have our own Animal Shelter built
within the next 12-24 months.  The County has entered into an agreement to purchase land from an individual
which we plan to close on June 2020.  Our full intent is to begin construction on Animal Shelter in 2020."

Cannon said his plans would be to begin construction on the shelter in July of 2020. The new agreement, which is the same payment as previous agreements-- $1500 per month, is for January 2020 through December 2020.

There was also a lengthy discussion of a request to cosign a loan on behalf of Community Action of Southern Kentucky that will be published in an additional article.

Various county offices gave reports at today's meeting.

Road Report: County Road Supervisor Greg Carroll discussed various equipment issues that road crews are currently working through. He also explained different functions of the new patching machine; the purchase of which magistrates would later approve. The machine will be allow road crews to repair holes,  fix shoulders, and resurface worn spots. The total purchase price of the machine and accessories was $47,800. Caroll said it will be delivered soon and will save the county money as it can be used all year long, not just summer months when paving work is normally done. Judge Cannon noted the used machine is half the price of a new one and the supplier will include all maintenance work on it for as long as the county owns it, minus parts price.

Emergency Management Director Terry Massey gave a brief report on the amount of runs local first responders made since last meeting (20) and Jailer Hank Vincent reported 21 county inmates currently house at Hart County Jail.

There was a short report from Rhonda Clemmons regarding Edmonson County Tourism, County Attorney Greg Vincent gave no report, and Sheriff Shane Doyle and Parks and Rec Director A.B. Webb were both absent.

County Clerk gave a short report on the recent vote recanvass requested by Governor Matt Bevin, where there was no change in the vote total. He also said that KY's governor-elect Andy Beshear will be inaugurated on Tuesday, December 10th and state offices will be closed. While the clerk is a county official, his office operates under state systems, which will not be available that day. He said his office will likely have to close on that day as well. 

Magistrates also vote to:

• approve settlement offer from Donald Sullivan in the amount for $5,000 for damage to Reef Road in Wingfield that Judge Cannon said was due to a piece of heavy equipment being operated by Sullivan.
• acknowledge receipt of $2950 check from A&G Tree Service for Bailey Branch Road damage
• reschedule the Dec. 23rd fiscal court meeting to Friday, Dec. 20th at 9am due to the Christmas holiday