THE EDMONSON VOICE
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
    • VOICE Calendar >
      • About VOICE Calendar
    • County Schools Calendar
  • Obits
  • Sports
    • WildcatsLive/Schedules
    • Recorded Game Videos
  • Weather
  • Features
    • Opinion
    • Ask Mongoose
    • Legal/Professional Policy
    • Our Staff
    • Contest Rules
    • Our Sponsors
  • FAQs
Picture
Picture
Picture

Edmonson County's Number One Source for Local News

County Dissolves Contract With Current Animal Shelter, Citizens' Group Looks To Form Local Humane Society

6/13/2016

3 Comments

 
PictureJudge Executive Wil Cannon speaks about the county's current animal shelter situation.
Darren Doyle, story and photos
Edmonson County Judge Executive Wil Cannon asked for a motion to cancel the county's animal shelter/animal control officer contract with Kim and Greg Carroll at today's fiscal court meeting. The motion was made by Mag. Mark Woosley and seconded by Mag. Joe Durbin. The vote was unanimous. 

Several citizens were present at today's meeting, but to much surprise, there were no fireworks or major excitement in the talks. The discussion was focused on how to remedy the county's problem rather than pointing fingers or placing blame. 

Judge Cannon first asked the Carrolls' attorney, Gary Logsdon, who was present on his clients' behalf, if there could be a mutual dissolution to the contract, to which Logsdon said there was not. Logsdon said that he needed to do more research in order for him to be able to properly advise his clients as to the best decision to make. He said his clients wanted to be fully cooperative with the court.

​It was then that Judge Cannon read the entire contract to the court and explained that the Carrolls had breached the contract by not upholding the requirements within. The contract also stated that either party could terminate the $30K per year agreement if the other had violated the agreement, which Cannon said was the case here.  

Judge Cannon then paused the animal shelter discussion in order for the court to handle normal fiscal business, but re-opened the discussion after the official meeting was over. Most everyone in attendance stayed for the group discussion.

Picture
Attorney Gary Logsdon speaks to the fiscal court today on behalf of his clients, Greg and Kim Carroll.
Kitty Houchin, a resident of Carder Street in Brownsville, spoke on behalf of a group of citizens that are in the process of forming "Edmonson County Paws," the county's first organized humane society.

"We're trying to take all the hate, discontent, and everyone that's mad, and focus that in a positive force going forward from today," she said.
Picture
Brownsville resident Kitty Houchin speaks on behalf of a citizens' group that is in the process of becoming Edmonson County's first humane society, "Edmonson County Paws."
Picture
Cannon reminded the group that the main reason for signing an agreement with the Carrolls was that they were the only ones to submit a bid since 2008. Mrs. Houchin said she felt like there was at least one reason for that.

"We certainly understand that, but some of the complaints I've been hearing is that no one else would bid on it because there was no clear direction on what it would take." She said she didn't know that the state law actually defined it clearly. Issues such as land or facility requirements were gray areas.

Cannon agreed. "There's not enough definition on that, that's for sure," he said. 

Judge Cannon also noted that he had received several calls and held meetings with several residents over the past couple weeks discussing a humane society while offering a host of other complaints and suggestions. "I invited them all to this meeting today, but I don't see them here."

Mrs. Houchin reiterated that the focus of Edmonson County Paws was to help find a solution. "We appreciate your efforts thus far," she said to Cannon. "We're here to work with you, not against you as an extension of fiscal court."
Picture
Joe Daugherty of Pig, said he would volunteer as a temporary dog warden for Edmonson County.
Joe Daugherty, a resident of Pig and a former county dog warden, said he also wanted to help. "I'd love to step into the dog warden position either on a temporary or permanent basis," he said. "This is something that needs people with compassion and love to take care of," he added, to which the crowd applauded.

Daugherty said he also felt like there needed to be stricter county ordinances on dogs along with spay and neuter laws. 

Judge Cannon disagreed. "We don't need new ordinances or laws, we need to enforce the ones we already have, and we need an animal control officer that's available when they're needed."

Cannon also said that a dog warden would be unnecessary until there was a facility in which to house the dogs.
Picture
Lorri Hare, Exec. Director for the BG/WC Humane Society, offered assistance in the county's animal shelter needs.
Lorri Hare, Executive Director of the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society, spoke to the group and said that there had been some suggestions a possibility for the BG/WC Society to take on Edmonson County's contract. "The answer isn't for Warren County to take over the surrounding county contracts," she said. "It's for us to come in and help Edmonson County (and others) to develop a better program."

She said her organization would gladly help Edmonson County on a interim basis but the ultimate goal should be for the WC humane society to be a support group for an Edmonson County organization. "It's just a matter of getting the right people involved and we're willing to help. Our board meeting is tomorrow. We've agreed that if Edmonson County finds the right dog warden temporarily, we've already agreed to take those animals. We want to encourage Edmonson County citizens that if they're missing an animal, they need to come look for it at our shelter."

She said she has offered help to the Carrolls numerous times but they refused. "This has been a horrific ordeal for many animals at that shelter," she said. I could keep you here for another 24 hours telling similar stories."

She said that she wouldn't offer her organization's help if the Carrolls were still involved. "That's not to take anything away from them as people, but I've been trying to help them for three years. It isn't going to happen. We're very glad those doors are closed. I wish nothing ill on them, but they don't need to be in the animal business."

Attempts to reach the Carrolls for comment today were not immediately returned. Kim Carroll told us last Monday that she was advised not to comment on the shelter's closing without her attorney present. She also said she wanted to sit down with us as soon as possible and tell her side of the story. 

Magistrate Mark Woosley suggested that a portion of the 14 acre tract in the process of being donated to the Rocky Hill Fire Department could be a viable location for a new county animal shelter at some point in the future. Several in attendance agreed that it was unlikely for the fire department to utilize all 14 acres in the event that the department even developed the tract, and that at least looking into the idea was favorable. Most county fire departments are each using one acre or less on which to operate their departments.

Cannon said that a search for a new animal control officer would be in effect immediately and that a decision would hopefully be made at the next fiscal court meeting on Monday, June 27, 2016.
Picture
3 Comments
Kitty Houchin
6/13/2016 05:18:23 pm

Thank you so much Edmonson Voice. Your coverage today and continued coverage as we progress down our fund raising road will greatly enhance our efforts.

Reply
William Tomms
6/14/2016 10:56:16 am

Edmonson co should contract with Warren county even if the cost are greater. Money to start a shelter here is just not feasible pluse the money to maintain and operate.

Reply
Mark Woosley
6/15/2016 08:41:53 pm

In response to your comment Mr. Tomms. I suggested that Edmonson, Grayson, and Hart County should take the money they were giving the Carrolls and work together to form a tri-county animal shelter. With free land and the help of the communities mentioned above I feel that a shelter could be built and ran properly. You are correct in saying Edmonson County cant afford to operate a shelter by itself. However, with the other counties I feel like it is a viable option.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    COMMENTING/LEGAL
    Deadline INFO
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

COPYRIGHT 2014-2025.
HOME
NEWS 
COMMUNITY


OBITS
FEATURES
WEATHER
​​
WILDCATS LIVE
​
SPORTS
CONTACT
Copyright 2014-2025 The Edmonson Voice.
​The Edmonson Voice logos are registered trademarks.
Call or text: 270-597-6550 ​[email protected]
PO BOX 94
BROWNSVILLE, KY 42210
CLICK HERE FOR DEADLINE INFO

  • Home
  • News
  • Community
    • VOICE Calendar >
      • About VOICE Calendar
    • County Schools Calendar
  • Obits
  • Sports
    • WildcatsLive/Schedules
    • Recorded Game Videos
  • Weather
  • Features
    • Opinion
    • Ask Mongoose
    • Legal/Professional Policy
    • Our Staff
    • Contest Rules
    • Our Sponsors
  • FAQs