Commissioners allocate funds to dog shelter, which has 'run out of money to operate'

The Ashland County commissioners made a transfer of $130,251 to Dog & Kennel for anticipated remaining year expenses.

“The shelter has run out of money to operate and we are having to come out of general fund to take care of this,” said Commissioner James Justice at Thursday's meeting. “Hopefully to the end of the year.”

“Too much spending and not enough revenue coming in,” added Commissioner Mike Welch, who went on to explain one area of concern – a lack of dog licenses being renewed.

“A lot of licenses haven’t renewed for one thing,” he said. “I know there is a huge list of licenses that we have and a lot of non-renewals. And the dog warden will be out checking door-to-door here pretty soon.”

“The water bill is up,” Commissioner Denny Bittle, commenting on utilities. “And we have one or two part-time employees on the weekend and our income is down from where it should be.”

Commissioners said a search is ongoing to find a veterinarian for the front part of the building that would help in balancing the funds.

“We have a real estate agent with a contract to sign,” Bittle said.

Welch suggested doing a nationwide search, “looking for a young vet or somebody who wants to move into the area.”

Other action commissioners:

• Concurred with a $2.50 per hour pay increase for Anne Strouth, EMA director, effective May 20.
• Authorized Auditor Cindy Funk to release $5 Permissive Tax funds to the city in the amount of $363,810.95 for the resurfacing of several streets.
• Authorized a generator service contract for $1,875 with W.W. Williams for generators located at the county garage and county office building.
• Approved advertising to accept sealed bids until 9:10 a.m. June 13 for mowing and bailing hay services at 675 County Road 1754.
• Re-appointed Steve Bechtol to the Ashland County Airport Authority for a four-year term.
• Authorized the appointment of Kaitlyn Scherer as a Social Service Worker 2 with J&FS and a starting rate of $23.22 per hour effective June 3.

Commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Thursday, May 23, in the Commissioner’s Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public. They are livestreamed on the Ashland County Government Facebook page.