County continues to look into shelter donations

Published 9:02 pm Saturday, November 7, 2015

The group rehabbing what was called the city pound is seeking help from the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors.

Lu Becker recently asked the board about the county joining the city in its efforts to rehab and support the place that is required to take in all stray, wild or dangerous dogs — city and county-wide. In taking over what was the city pound, representatives from the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League created a new group to rehab and oversee what will now be referred to as a shelter. Whether the group will be called Friends of the Brookhaven City Shelter or Friends of the Lincoln Animal Shelter is not decided yet, as the group holds out hope that the county might get on board.

Lu Becker

Lu Becker

Kelly McDonald, chairman of the board for the new friends of the animal shelter group, addressed the board Monday and asked if members had looked over the inventory list the group was interested in.

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Becker, an adviser to the board over the renamed facility, asked about the old screenwire plant the county owns that has been more or less neglected and abandoned. Inside the building there are some broken or defective fans and heating units, as well as some other old materials that could possibly be used to make new pens. Becker said the group could really use the items, as only three of the 16 kennels are functional, winter is coming, and there is no place to keep vicious dogs.

Tillmon Bishop

Tillmon Bishop

Some supervisors wanted to go look over the equipment and materials in the screenwire plant to see if there was anything they might could use in their district’s barns before donating it. Supervisor District 1 Rev. Jerry Wilson said he wanted to go look but as of Monday’s meeting he hadn’t had a chance. Board President Eddie Brown said he had a concern about whether the new board members would want a chance to go over the inventory, but that would push the opportunity for salvaging until Jan 1.

Representatives from the shelter said the animals cannot wait until then.

“What we’re trying to do out there is trying to get some heat in the building, there’s simply a roof out there. There’s no walls, no heat,” said Pete Corkin, with the friends of the shelter. “The dogs are freezing to death in the wintertime, we need to get the heat out there before winter comes.”

Eddie Brown

Eddie Brown

Supervisors said they aren’t interested in the heaters and donating them should be fine, but the board hasn’t deciphered the legalities of how to transfer the inventory.

“You understand the board of supervisors is not the enemy — they’re trying to find out not only what can be given but how to do it. We have to make sure it’s done properly,” Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop said.

McDonald asked if they could come back to the next meeting to check on progress and board members, Bishop and the county attorney advised they would be working toward answers until then.

The board discussed specific issues with solid waste accounts. The board advised that residents need to provide the proper paperwork and follow the procedure for handling solid waste accounts when they are moving or making changes.

Rev. Jerry L. Wilson

Rev. Jerry L. Wilson

The board approved for new board members to attend the Mississippi Association of Supervisors new term orientation Dec. 8 and 9 in Jackson at the Hilton.

The board entered into executive session for personnel reasons.

The next meetings of the board of supervisors will be a docket meeting on Nov. 9 and its next regular meeting on Nov. 16.