JPs Pass Animal Shelter Proposal to Budget & Finance
“Do it now” vs. “We need a plan” was the bottom line at the Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting on June 8.
The hour-and-a-half discussion about the “property purchase opportunity” for a County animal shelter did not yield an agreement or an ordinance for consideration. Although JPs seemed to agree that a shelter is desperately needed, several stated they would not support a tax increase to fund the project or its operations.
The Committee voted unanimously to send the matter to the Budget & Finance Committee because no specific financial details about the purchase or ongoing operational funds have been settled. (Budget & Finance meets on Monday, June 14, the day before Tuesday’s Quorum Court meeting.)
Attendees
County Judge Jim Baker and County Administrator Tom Anderson attended the June 8 meeting, as did JPs John Allison (R, Dist. 3), Tyler Pearson (D, Dist. 7), Jerry Boyer (R, Dist. 12), Matt Brown (R, Dist. 8), Kris Kendrick (R, Dist. 9), and Sam Strain (R, Dist. 4), who are not members of the Courts & Public Safety Committee.
Committee member Andy Shock (R, Dist. 10) was not in the room. A logon for Sheriff’s Department Fiscal Officer Angie Wooley was displayed on the Zoom screen.
Numerous members of the public filled the audience; it was by far the most well attended Committee meeting in over two years.
Chair JP Randy Higgins (R, Dist. 2) began by distributing a handout from County Treasurer Scott Sanson listing the voluntary animal tax revenues from 2014 through 2020, saying “My numbers were in the ballpark,” and said JPs could ask Sanson if they have questions.
Three Choices
Later, Higgins explained that he did not provide a draft ordinance because he did not yet know what would be included in that document, but outlined three possible outcomes:
♦ do nothing,
♦ table the issue “for further information and further data,” or
♦ send a recommendation to the Budget & Finance Committee “because we are going to be appropriating money.”
Where’s the Plan?
Roland, the first Committee member to speak, asked Baker if the County had looked at building on land the County already owns. “We’ve got to look at all options,” she said.
She referred to her campaign platform of “no new taxes” and added
I was elected to be responsible with taxpayer dollars and I still believe we can work within out budget to do all that we need. We tried to do a reallocation last year …. maybe in the future one could come back around next year….
I want an animal shelter; it is needed. I don’t think there’s a person in this room that does not agree that an animal shelter is needed…
On the flip side of that, I can’t go out and buy a home unless I know how I’m going to pay for it. If there’s not an operational plan — that’s where I have an issue…. My deal is operations, it’s in the physical management of operating the facility….
She said she formerly owned a building near the City shelter and they had constant issues with unwanted animals being dropped off during off-business hours; she warned of the same possible problem at the proposed Highway 65 location.
Roland reminded JPs of her business background and later said, “I’m just trying to get us to have some operational” plans for revenue and shelter operation.
Roland said she’d “love to see an animal group lease the facility,” and indicated she would vote in committee to send “this important issue” to the full Court.
She suggested “we start small, get that physical address that we need for the animal groups to apply for grants and grow from there.” She further suggested that a “startup” could be built using the capital expenditure fund — “$500,000 to $600,000, that’s what I’m thinking” — and then use the animal tax for operating expenses.
Roland also pointed out that property taxes would rise with next year’s reassessment, and said, “I think if we put a [new] tax before the people, I personally don’t think that tax will pass … that’s what feedback I’m getting in my District.”
No Appraisal Yet
After thanking Baker “for joining the Committee,” JP Tyler Lachowsky (R, Dist. 6) asked Baker about the promised appraisal and inspections.
Baker said he’d ordered an appraisal of the property, and that inspections and an environmental study wouldn’t be needed “unless the Court approves the purchase.”
County Attorney Phil Murphy added, “We, also in the contract, have contingencies in which those inspections … for the sale will be contingent upon a successful completion to our satisfaction.”
When Lachowsky asked about the number of “beds”/capacity, Baker said that is “flexible … depending on how much space is used for intake animals…. Then you gotta allow for the bedspace … and then the out-processing space, so it’s pretty flexible.”
He later said “solar panels would cut your operating costs way down….”
Other County-Owned Property?
Responding to Lachowsky again, Baker said the only possible location for a shelter on County-owned property is at the jail, “but most families don’t really care about going and adopting a dog at the jail… that’s kind of a problem the last one had.”
Roads Shop Would Be “Exposed”
When Lachowsky asked about the 120 acres the County owns on Acklin Gap, Baker immediately said, “I don’t see one there being conducive.”
He later said the
issue is securing $80 to 100 million worth of items and equipment that the Roads shop has that people will be driving through, going to the dog shelter.
OEM has their office there; the Office of Emergency Management has equipment scattered behind a locked gate, but it’s not a chain-link fence… so there’s three entities that would be exposed if you put the animal shelter over the hill back there.
Baker: Sell the Old Road Shop Property
Baker added the only other County property might be “the old Road shop down on Amity Road but, in my opinion, it’s too high to put an animal shelter on. I think we sell it for more money than it’s worth… I think the County would be in a lot better financial position to sell that land and put it into some kind of capital improvement”
JP Jake Moss (R, Dist. 13) asked about the lease agreement (Baker said it would be drafted if the Court approves the purchase) and the septic system at “Through the Years” flea market.
Baker confirmed that the County would be totally responsible for the property, the septic system, and the building once the purchase goes through, with the seller leasing the property through January, 2022.
Build for $350,000
Later, Baker said Moix Construction had given an estimate for “just a building” at $350,000, “not counting air conditioning … lighting, electricity,” although last week Higgins had pegged that comparison at $350,000 total.
Lachowsky said, “I ran not to increase taxes.” He added that, although he also had concerns about no operational plan, he would send the issue to the Budget Committee.
Committee members discussed the current spay and neuter program and the next-door location of Companions “that has five vets on staff,” per Baker. Higgins said the future of the current spay/neuter program would be determined by the Budget Committee.
Baker: Why Not Use Part of County’s $4.5M Reserves?
About a half-hour into the meeting, Baker — to loud applause from the animal welfare volunteers in the audience — said
OK, all right. Our County today has $4.5 million worth of reserve that has not been appropriated… vs. a few years ago when we could barely pass our budget, I think is a big step.
If there’s a barrier for animal control money — to do it, to make the thing work — why can’t some of the $4.5 million that is in reserve be used to help this?
Baker said $1.3 million of the $4.5 million is “unencumbered” money and “the rest of it is capital improvements,” accumulated over the last four years.
When Roland asked if the $1.3 million is CARES Act revenue, Baker said, “From the state of Arkansas. I don’t know where it came from.”
“Nothing About Jail?”
Roland said
Since I’ve been on the Court — my third year — we’ve talked nothing about jail. The jail needs to be built. We don’t pay our officers enough and I know that’s an issue; we have tremendous turnover and ….I want to take care of public safety….
I was always understanding that was going to be the next big project that we spend with this sequestered money….
A Smaller Build-Out?
Allison, also referring to his campaign pledge, said “I will not vote for a tax increase … and I stand by that,” before agreeing that the Court “could make recommendations to the Judge that we downsize that build-out.”
He had visited the property with the Judge and an appraiser and said, “If it appraises for more than $400,000, then we’re buying a piece of property at the low market value” and could sell the property if the operation and funding could not be settled within the seven-month seller lease period.
He also suggested signing a contract with a 501C-3 to operate the shelter on a pre-determined percentage of the animal tax, but Murphy said that would be “problematic.”
Allison then indicated he would vote to purchase the property if the property appraises at $400,000 or more, but his vote to renovate would depend on “some operational plan.”
Pearson: Use the $1.3 Million
Pearson suggested using the $1.3 unencumbered funds “from the state of Arkansas” to complete the entire project and then use the $1.7 in the animal tax fund to “fund operational expenses for the first several years.”
After Strain verified that the nearby creek is not in the floodplain, Baker said the property “would need new septic” to operate a shelter.
Moss, while also indicating he would vote to send the issue forward, said, “I don’t see a rush,” adding that JPs could hold a special Quorum Court meeting to discuss the operational details.
Who Makes the Plan?
Whitney Davis of Greenbrier questioned Roland about her remarks on public safety. “Do you know that officers do not have animal resources?” she asked, as she recounted the officer who was fired and “killed animals left behind with no recourse.”
When Davis asked who was to come up with a plan, Baker said, “Call my office.”
Katie Mullins of Vilonia urged JPs to “get a shelter in place immediately,” telling about losing an entire herd of goats to a pack of wild dogs, which caused “thousands of dollars of loss.” She had to abandon a 20-acre farm as a result, she said.
Mullins said she was “sick and tired of nothing happening,” and begged JPs to “take action.”
In response, Roland said, “My heart goes out to you…. Our Quorum Court’s job is to appropriate funds, not operate a facility Having a shelter will not stop vicious attacks by animals.”
Jack Sotallaro spoke in favor of using the $1.3 million “unencumbered funds” for the project, “leaving $1.4 million for operations…. doesn’t need a tax increase, and by next year, we’ll know what we have” for further planning.
501c-3 “Could Do a Plan”
Donna Clawson of Conway (from the Friends of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter) spoke next, saying, “I want a shelter.” She described the “perfect location” next to Companions and said a 501c-3 “could do a plan.”
Colby Kingarten of Greenbrier, a “property manager in the County,” urged JPs to move forward, saying “costs for building are going up daily.”
Deputies Need Raises, Too
Scotty Keller, a County resident, said
I want my deputies paid and I want their salaries increased. I want things done so that we the people are protected…. I’d much rather spend the $400,000 out of the money that’s there … but I want to make sure those deputies get their raises…. The Sheriff’s office has been in need of that….
She later suggested that the Courts & Public Safety Committee use the week before the Budget Committee meeting to gather ideas so “the Budget Committee has something to work from.”
County’s In a Good Position
Urging JPs to look at all the options, Bob Gregory from “District 6, just east of town,” pointed out that
Faulkner County finds themselves in an incredibly good, positive position.
First thing is they’ve go $1.7 million in the bank, already sitting there waiting to be dedicated to an animal shelter either for building or operation of it…
The second thing that’s there is an in-place voluntary tax that you don’t have to go talk to others about; it’s already there. All you have to do is talk to them about getting more of that….
The third thing that’s in place in Faulkner County is an incredible volunteer group — rescue people who are dedicated, interested, and committed to spending their own money, in their own time, taking care of stray animals.
The one thing that’s lacking is, what do we do about … vicious animals?
Meet to Develop a Plan?
Clawson asked, “Could we meet with some of you and develop a plan?” She continued,
We have lots of ideas … we don’t want to spend, you know, 500 hours and then it’s not really taken into consideration….
First thing is, we need a board … and let them come up with a plan….
Roland asked the meeting to spread the word to any “group or individual that is willing to lease out” the facility to attend the next Budget & Finance Committee meeting.
When Clawson reminded JPs of Baker’s existing animal control advisory board, Roland remarked, “I actually encourage him [the Judge] to step on and do that because I believe we need it.”
QC Can Appoint a Board
Lachowsky pointed out that Arkansas law (Arkansas Code, §14-14-705) allows county Quorum Courts to create an advisory board by ordinance.
Then Lachowsky moved to send the conversation to the Budget & Finance Committee, with Roland providing the second.
Higgins: Seeking Transparency
Higgins commented
I want to make sure that we’re not rushing this … We do have an opportunity for us that we need to make sure it doesn’t get away from us, if we so choose….
I think, for the purpose of this meeting, we’ve done a good job getting things down … we’ll be as transparent as we possibly can in our discussion….
The Committee then unanimously voted by voice to send the matter to the Budget & Finance Committee for further discussion, and the meeting was adjourned.
Videos edited from original video on Faulkner County’s YouTube channel.)
Visit Faulkner County Reports on YouTube for more videos and video excerpts from this and other County meetings.
It is absurd to live in Faulkner County with NO animal shelter while animals are dropped-off on my corner. Do something real. Faulkner County is spread-out so far that it requires five shelters while offering no shelters! Who can believe this happens in the USA???