HERITAGE FARMS … Lisa Bartel from Heritage Farms Animal Rescue informs the Fulton County Commissioners of issues currently going on in the county in regard to the Fulton County Humane Society. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Fulton County Commissioners held their meeting on Tuesday, March 1st. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
Commissioners first moved to approve the minutes from the February 24th meeting followed by approval of the agenda as presented. The following additional agenda items were also approved by the Commissioners.
Authorization for the payment of bills as presented. Increase and transfer of appropriations for various departments.
Rescheduled the date for the 1st hearing on Ditch 2144-Krasula to April 5th at 9:30 a.m. Approved change order #1 to contract 2021-92 with Bryan Excavating for Nova Tube and Steel Sanitary Sewer Project. Approved purchase orders and travel requests as presented.
Commissioners then entered into recess at 9:03 a.m. before reconvening at 9:13 a.m. Lisa Bartel from Heritage Farms Animal Rescue was introduced and spoke to Commissioners regarding the Fulton County Humane Society.
Lisa first started out by explaining to Commissioners that cats in the county are not the issue. “We are a farming community; we will have cats. Our issue is with dogs,” said Lisa.
She continued to explain that the dog wardens in Fulton County are the best two wardens in the area. She works closely with them, and they work closely with her so that they can each get the animals where they need to go.
“For the past year, I cannot name a dog that the Humane Society took from the pound. Fulton County is in their name, and they are here to support the county but when you ask them to help with a Fulton County dog, amazingly they don’t have the room,” said Lisa.
She continued to explain that she has spent much of her own money to create new kennels and runs for the dogs in this county in order to help them, but that it is still not enough.
“I cannot continue to keep up with all the Fulton County dogs without getting some help from them. I have been getting calls several times a week from people wanting to surrender dogs who told me that they called the Humane Society first but were told to call me.
Yet, the Humane Society pulled in four-month-old German Shepard puppies from out of the area,” explained Lisa.
The Fulton County Dog Warden Brian Banister informed the Commissioners that they have also been getting phone calls from people wanting to surrender dogs who were told the same thing.
Commissioners then asked Brian how many dogs the Humane Society had been taking in.
He informed them that the amount of dogs being accepted there has dwindled and that the selection has been very limited. After further discussion, Commissioners moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 a.m.
Commissioners also held a second meeting during the week which tool place on Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00 a.m. The meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer.
Commissioners first moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on March 1st followed by approval of the agenda as presented.
A review then took place for the February 2022 month end financial report and the February 2022 sales tax report. The following additional agenda items were then approved by Commissioners. Increase and transfer appropriations for various departments.
The cancellation for the session scheduled to take place on March 8th, 2022. Entered into contract 2022-30 with St. Casper Catholic Church for facility rental on behalf of the Board of Elections.
Approved presented purchase orders and transfer requests. Commissioners also held the first viewing for proposed ditch 2144-Krasula. Following the viewing, the meeting was adjourned.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
