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Humane Society seeks city funding increase
(Clinton) -- More negotiations directed in funding request the mayor called "outrageous"
More discussions will be held with the Clinton Humane Society about the city’s subsidy, but the Clinton City Council’s Internal Operations Committee made no promises. The agency is seeking an increase in the annual city subsidy from $65,000 currently to $120,000 plus an increase in fees that would increase the city’s cost by an estimated $1,600.
Clinton Mayor Mark Vulich, in a statement issued Friday, vowed to veto the increase if approved by the council and if the council could override the veto he stated he would not sign it.
He called the increase "outrageous"
At this morning’s (Tuesday) meeting of the IOC, Humane Society representative Tammy Olsen said there were not aware of the mayor’s strong stand and questioned whether there was any need to talk further. “We would like to sit down and talk with you and let you know why we need the funding, but the mayor has made such a strong statement about vetoing this, is there any need to go further,” she commented.
Olsen and other agency representatives said they were not asking for more than they needed and without that level of subsidy the Humane Society “would be bankrupt.”
City Attorney Jeff Farwell said the city, by state code is responsible for dogs running at large and may deal with abused or neglected dogs. He said there is a cost to establishing a city dog pound to handle those cases. The city attorney added that he found a reference to handling dogs in council records in 1865 with ordinance number 22 to start counting dogs in the city, so it’s not a new issue.
Committee member Jennifer Graf commented that there should be more discussion, adding “we’re not going to solve the issue today.
While the committee members indicated they did not favor the city getting into to the business of keeping dogs, committee member Paul Gassman also suggested more talks, but cautioned the Humane Society representatives to be cautious. He said “you see the handwriting on the wall with the letter form the mayor that he would veto it and you would have to take your chances whether the council would support that veto.”
The city attorney was asked to research what other communities pay for similar services and continue talking with the Humane Society.
The issue will be placed on the December 18th IOC meeting agenda.
Written 11/20/2012 by Dave Vickers - KROS News
