[0:00] It's 5:30
and um our call meeting is slated for
[0:05] that time. So, if you all will, we're
going to begin our meeting and we're
[0:12] going to ask our uh chief of police that
he'll give us that invitation. Please
[0:19] pray with me. What gracious God, we come
to you now, Father, in your prayer,
[0:23] Lord, call upon your name, Lord, dear
God, to be with us tonight, Father. We
[0:27] ask you to be with the city, Father. We
have to meet with the attendees. Father,
[0:30] we come here for a focus and a purpose,
Lord. Dear God, tonight, Lord, I pray
[0:34] that you will work with this city
government. They'll be good stewardship,
[0:38] Father. They'll do what's right for the
city, Father, for everyone that's
[0:41] involved here, Father. Father, we focus
on the circumstance tonight. We ask for
[0:45] the wisdom and the guidance, Lord, that
it will be pleasing to everyone here,
[0:49] Lord. Only you can work these things
out, Father. I trust in you, Father. As
[0:53] we come here tonight, Father, just give
us everything we need that we all focus
[0:57] that we come together as unity. Father,
in unity become strength. Father, if it
[1:02] is in the name of your son, Jesus, we
pray for this. Thank you. Amen. In the
[1:07] name of Jesus.
>> Amen.
[1:09] » If you all stand for pledge, please.
[1:15] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[1:20] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:26] justice for all.
>> Thank you, sir.
[1:39] » All right, y'all. We thank y'all for
coming today. Um, our mayor had an
[1:47] appointment so he's not able to be here
and um, it's going to be informal. So,
[1:54] we're going to go ahead. We have a
councilman that is on the phone. I think
[2:00] it is.
>> Yes, sir. We have Elizabeth. You there?
[2:04] » Yes, I'm here.
>> So, uh, we're going to just have a
[2:07] byside discussion. We're going to turn
this part because we're here to discuss
[2:11] the animal shelter and I'm going turn
that part now in the hands of Mr. Jones.
[2:18] » All right. Good afternoon or good
evening. How's everybody doing today?
[2:25] All right. So, um even though we we
titled it as a call meeting, we won't be
[2:30] making any votes tonight. This is
strictly an informative
[2:35] session that we're having dealing with
the animal shelter and the procedures
[2:41] that should happen from now on. So I
just want everybody to understand that
[2:48] um we have those policies are in
um in our standing opposite of the
[2:55] procedures that we have. We're just
going to reiterate them. So then in case
[2:59] something like this may happen again or
close to this that everybody will know
[3:03] what the protocol is. Okay.
All right.
[3:08] So once again I said this meeting is
inform our partners that we have here.
[3:12] Vhos where you at? Well Vh
[3:18] okay good. And the citizens of the
recent actions taking place in the city
[3:23] on Friday. Um, that wasn't a call
meeting. That wasn't a formal meeting,
[3:28] but it was a meeting with certain
individuals in it. We're just trying to
[3:32] clarify the the policies that we have
set in place months ago.
[3:37] This is
what the city must do to keep good
[3:42] relationship
with our partners cuz that's our focus.
[3:46] Without our partners in the city, we do
know based off of the budget and
[3:51] everything else, we as a city cannot
afford certain expenses. And we we
[3:57] definitely appreciate what our partners
do for us.
[4:00] Like I said again, we will not be voting
today. Just clarify.
[4:06] The city shelter as we know it is shut
down.
[4:11] It means that
we cannot have any intakes.
[4:18] So what does that mean exactly for the
citizens? I know we still have stray
[4:22] dogs that may be running the area,
whatever. We as a city cannot hold those
[4:28] animals.
We can't pick them up and we can't do
[4:33] the things that needs to be done for the
city. The shelter is closed due to some
[4:39] replacing and repairs for the shelter
due to the storm that happened almost
[4:44] two years ago. So, it's needed repairs.
Where's our uh carpenter? Uh
[4:51] thank you ma'am for being here. Um
and the reason that the shelter is shut
[4:57] down because of the department of
agriculture. We had two violations. One
[5:02] of the violations was structure and the
other violations was was drainage.
[5:08] All linked into uh the storm that
happened.
[5:13] With that being said, we have to
evacuate all the dogs.
[5:19] What we will do, and it's in our policy,
the first thing that we will do is that
[5:24] we will notify our partners as soon as
possible. I said our partners who
[5:31] partner with the city. Raise your hand
again for the ones that partner with the
[5:35] city to make sure things happen and
spending y'all volunteer time going out
[5:39] there to the shelter feeding, bathing,
worming, and all that. So from now on,
[5:45] when we have to evacuate the shelter for
whatever it may be, you guys will be the
[5:52] first to be called. And after you are
called, the city
[5:58] um will give you a timeline on which the
dogs, the animals can be picked up and
[6:05] that timeline and for whatever reason
sometime things come up where you can't
[6:09] do it. Then we will activate our outside
sources like we have now which is
[6:15] Thomasville, Georgia. So the first step
that we will do is activate Vhos.
[6:26] Then if you cannot respond,
we will activate our outside sources.
[6:36] when the shelter reopens.
What we would like also every dog names
[6:42] I know y'all do already.
But one thing that we we do have inside
[6:47] of the shelter, we have an R on the
board. Good, good idea, but we would
[6:53] like to go a step further. This will
help us out as well.
[6:57] every dog that has been officially
rescued with that with one of the
[7:03] partners that you have that you've been
talking with. We want the name of the
[7:08] dog. We want the name of the rescue
agency and the different medical things
[7:13] that that rescue has took have done.
That helps us out. That'll help Miss Kim
[7:20] out. She's the one does accounts
payable. So anything any transaction
[7:24] that goes to the vet when she gets those
bills in she can put name for name
[7:29] procedures to procedures. With that
being said
[7:33] um we want that at the shelter and we
want via email
[7:39] so that way we can keep track and see
just because we won't give you a
[7:43] response but at least we'll have a paper
trail in case something happens.
[7:48] The individuals on that list who needs
to be notified will be our spokesman.
[7:54] The person that is supposed to speak for
the city is Officer Brown,
[8:01] Chief of Police,
[8:05] Miss Bernese,
Miss Kim,
[8:09] the mayor,
and the council members.
[8:16] I know I don't know did that trans did
we have any pickup today to go to um
[8:24] I just said the name Thomas field today
come and I think
[8:30] » okay so right this moment it should be 6
at the shelter
[8:35] » I do understand that you guys are making
coordinations to move
[8:40] but before they move this is going to
our partners
[8:44] before they move. We need the names of
the dogs. I know y'all did that already.
[8:50] Um, and we also need um the rescues or
who is ever
[8:58] giving monies or volunteering whatever
that they have, whether toys or
[9:03] whatever. We need that today so we can
put that in our paperwork
[9:07] to show that these dogs are taken care
of.
[9:12] Um, I know y'all say y'all want to do it
today. So, I'm hoping y'all prepared to
[9:16] give that up after this, right? And what
we're also going to do is I'm going give
[9:21] a timeline
if we don't have it before 12:00 p.m.
[9:26] tomorrow, right? We'll make the
coordinations with Thomasville for the
[9:31] additional six. This is to protect the
city,
[9:36] our partners, and the animals.
clarify that right there, Chris. Go
[9:41] ahead. 5 p.m. That just means we need
the arrangements by 12 tomorrow.
[9:46] » That is correct. I mean, we understand
y'all are working or whatever. Like,
[9:50] just so we know the arrangements, you
know, and Thomasville has confirmation
[9:54] that we do have them taken care of.
We're all good. Not clear there.
[9:59] » Did everybody get that? Just
confirmation to ensure that they are
[10:02] taken care of, that that [snorts]
they're good to go.
[10:06] And I guess
>> like they don't physically have to be
[10:09] picking up by 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.
>> Yes.
[10:11] » Um you just need the paperwork 5:00 p.m.
tomorrow. Just the paperwork.
[10:15] » Just the paperwork. That's what we need
cuz we know it's I think one's supposed
[10:18] to be potentially leaving tomorrow based
off of the medical if it's going to
[10:23] transport tomorrow. I think to Florida,
right? Is that the one that you was
[10:27] talking about?
>> Working on.
[10:28] » Okay.
Um,
[10:32] and lastly, we do appreciate everyone
for showing up today, showing your
[10:36] support. And I guess the last thing, Mr.
Johnson, would be like, um, does anybody
[10:42] have any questions or comments dealing
with
[10:44] » I would just like to clear clear
something up really quick if I could on
[10:49] the update to the procedure um that
Chris explained. So we know that you
[10:53] know there have been there has been
recordeping on outtakes and intakes but
[10:56] we're just asking moving forward that as
soon as you know of a organization that
[11:02] is going to rescue a dog that we get
that both printed and electronic. So,
[11:07] all the details that you would typically
put on an outtake form, I'm assuming
[11:10] could go just on a document to say,
"Hey, on October 5th, this dog Rocky,
[11:15] I'm just I'm using that name. No clue."
But Rocky is going to be out to this
[11:19] organization. And that is to protect you
guys as much as the city, as much as our
[11:24] officers that are working out there and
our employees. That way, if this happens
[11:28] again, we have it both written and
electronic, you know, and everyone knows
[11:31] where every dog is, what's in in in
motion, right? because I realize a lot
[11:36] of times y'all have worked on things in
the background which we're so
[11:40] appreciative of that we have no clue
about. You know, I'm willing to admit
[11:42] that like y'all are doing double triple
the work that we even know of. And so,
[11:47] but we need to know of that to have your
back when this happens again in the
[11:51] future. I think that's the biggest
thing. And that could be as simple just
[11:54] like today that email thread where
you're just informing us like, "Hey,
[11:58] we've talked to this organization in
South Dakota and we're transporting this
[12:02] dog on October 5th." That's all we're
asking for moving forward. That's all I
[12:07] got.
>> Okay.
[12:11] » I think one second. That's that's it for
me, Mr. Johnson. But we had a hand in
[12:17] the back and if you want to acknowledge
or
[12:19] » All right.
>> May I ask when
[12:21] » can you step up front, ma'am, please?
>> Can I need your name for a minute?
[12:25] » Space sellers. I was wondering when the
city's going to have the repairs to the
[12:30] animal shelter completed since it's been
two years since the hurricane and when
[12:34] will the drainage I mean it's something
like lighting or power the wastewater
[12:40] treatment plant when when will that be
done? We actually have the contractor
[12:46] for the city here with us tonight.
Unfortunately, FEMA, GEMA, and insurance
[12:52] companies do not work in a hurry. We had
to hire a public adjuster for the city
[12:57] to work our claim.
>> So that is to be
[13:00] » two years.
>> Yes, ma'am. It's been two years and
[13:02] we're still battling that. And I have
talked with the public adjuster every
[13:08] week, if not every week, every 10 days
and they are telling us that it will be
[13:13] settled by September the 30th. However,
we as the city have to contacting Miss
[13:19] Christina Jones. She is going to begin
work this week. Roberto's work. You've
[13:25] already started. We're going on
the assumption that we'll be receiving a
[13:31] check. I'm not going to say by the end
of the month cuz I dealt with it for two
[13:36] years.
>> Let's not put a time on it, but we'll
[13:38] get it.
>> But we're working on it.
[13:40] » And this will be up to the Department of
Agriculture standards or
[13:44] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Department of the State
[13:45] » and then we can place it off there
again. Uh but once the department
[13:50] because they will have to come in and
inspect and do I'm very I'm pretty sure
[13:55] I've never had to work with them before.
Um whatever they say that's what will go
[14:00] by. Okay. Well the people out there that
have been taking care of the animal they
[14:04] do a amazing job with very much support
from the city and I just think that that
[14:09] this needs to be a priority. I mean, if
we have animals roaming the city, we
[14:13] need to provide, you know, humane stuff
for them to you wouldn't want your
[14:18] animal, you know, the heat, poor
drainage and structural problems and
[14:22] stuff like that. And I think they need
to be a top priority. And I'm here on
[14:26] the animal. I'm the animal. I love
animals and I think they do an amazing
[14:30] job, but for some reason, it seems like
they always get the
[14:35] they get we've had to rearrange
priorities since May. I'm not going to
[14:39] tell you no fear. Trust me, as finance
director and city clerk, I do all of it.
[14:46] And we have moved this one to the top.
We actually pulled her from another job
[14:51] so that we can get this done.
Unfortunately, with the state coming in
[14:56] that kind of put it up there for us. So,
and thankfully I've got good counsel
[15:02] that
they will see to that. So, you
[15:05] [clears throat] say by September 30th
I'll have all the renovations completed.
[15:09] I don't know. Um
>> I don't I don't So, this is the thing.
[15:13] This is the the tricky part. I don't I
don't like giving my opinion. For those
[15:17] that know me, I don't like giving an
opinion on something. I only speak on
[15:21] facts. The fact is that right now is
that it's been almost two years. Fact
[15:26] is, we have people working on it now. I
don't want to give my opinion and I
[15:30] don't want anybody to give an opinion on
the deadline or when it's going to be
[15:34] completed. All we know is it's getting
done and we're doing the best that we
[15:37] can with the resources that we have.
>> But for the state to have to step in, it
[15:42] seems like it's a priority.
>> Well, this so the state
[15:48] comes and inspects all the time and last
time we had a couple other things that
[15:54] they said that needed to be done and
then every time I know how y'all know
[15:58] inspections when they come in, they'll
see this and you fix that and then they
[16:03] may come in again and see something
else. So, I'm not want to blame the
[16:07] state. I don't want to blame the city. I
don't even want to blame the insurance
[16:10] company. I want to blame the hurricane.
That's who I want to blame. But that's
[16:14] nobody at all. So, we're doing the best
that we can.
[16:17] » I just want to make sure it's priority.
>> Yes, ma'am. It is.
[16:24] Sir, asking you.
[16:30] » I'm Ron Bonds. My first question I think
has been asked and that was is this
[16:34] going to be a permanent shutdown or is
it just a temporary thing?
[16:38] » Temporary.
>> Temporary. And then my next question is
[16:41] uh what steps, if any, are we taking to
reassess what's going to cost in the
[16:46] next fiscal year to run the shelter? Are
we making any plans to augment that
[16:52] funding somehow?
So based off of our partners that we
[16:57] have right we don't we can't do a
guesstimation of cost and the main
[17:02] reason is I mean for the building itself
for the general maintenance we can do
[17:07] that however we don't know what the
intake is going to be we we can I think
[17:12] we hold a total of the state level is 22
total
[17:16] » your license
>> 20 so if we have 20 the whole entire
[17:20] time right like for like meals and
whatever it could go up. Right now we
[17:25] have well right now we have a total of
six at our facility but prior to that we
[17:30] had 14. So it does fluctuate.
>> All right. Thank you.
[17:34] » And your name again sir?
>> Ron Bombs.
[17:36] » Okay. Ba Ms.
>> Thank you.
[17:41] » Anyone else y'all? We thank y'all for
coming and uh you say you finished. I'll
[17:48] come up to you.
>> No no I'm the club. Go ahead. Go ahead.
[17:55] I was going to say something.
>> And you are?
[17:59] » My name is Janet Corker. I'm repres
Hazelhurst Animal Shelter or VHAS. Over
[18:04] the past two years, I stood in this room
15 times. I've spent more than a decade
[18:09] volunteering at this shelter. VHAS is a
nonprofit organization of volunteers,
[18:14] fosters, advocates, donors, and rescue
partners who spent nearly two decades
[18:17] serving this community and the animals
that live in shelter temporarily.
[18:21] Together we've transformed the shelter
from what was 100% euthanage rate to a
[18:25] no kill shelter status by statistics. We
provide medical care, spayneuter, um
[18:32] cost of bedding, rescue, transport,
education, and resources to reduce the
[18:35] overpopulation of the internet
community. We've cleaned kennels, walk
[18:39] dogs, foster animals, dur rescue
partners, and transported them thousands
[18:42] of miles, quite literally 95,000 miles
in my car. That's a year and a half.
[18:47] We've raised money, paid vet bills, and
spent countless weekends and holidays
[18:51] caring for the dogs in this little pink
building tucked away in the corner of
[18:54] the town. We've all done this because we
love the dogs. There are 14 dogs who
[18:58] were residents of shelter yesterday.
They're not numbers. They are not
[19:02] spreadsheets. They're not pawns of
controversy. They're living beings. We
[19:06] know these dogs. We know their
personalities, their fears, medical
[19:09] histories, and needs. We've photographed
them. We've written their bios, arranged
[19:13] veterary care, networkkedorked them
hundreds of times in social media and
[19:16] emails to advocates and partners around
the nation.
[19:19] Before Thursday stop order, six of these
dogs have confirmed rescue
[19:22] opportunities. Then the stop order was
issued. A rescue offered to take two
[19:26] more, meaning we could have moved eight
to 14 dogs the moment we were given
[19:30] notice, but we were never given a
chance. Today, eight dogs were moved to
[19:35] Thomasville, Humane without meaningful
discussion with EAS, despite our long
[19:38] history with the shelter. Tonight I
speak for Leah, Diamond, Licorice,
[19:43] Flips, Domino, Cookie, Rocky, and Luna.
They did not cause the stop order. They
[19:47] did not fail an inspection and not
choose any of this. They are individual
[19:51] lies caught in the middle of decisions.
They have no rule in making and just
[19:54] want a second chance. My concern is not
looking. I'm not here to judge them. I
[19:58] have not done my research on them. My
concern is the process and transparency.
[20:02] I'm glad there's a calling tonight, but
this is not it. There's more discussion
[20:07] that's needed.
On Thursday, the Georgia Department of
[20:10] Agriculture issued a stop order
affecting the Hayesburg personal
[20:12] shelter. We were in this room Thursday
night and not a soul said anything. On
[20:17] Friday, members of the city, I'm told,
had a meeting with representatives of
[20:20] Department of A. That was not publicly
announced. Details have really shared
[20:24] off hands. Very limited at this point.
Who attended? Where are the minutes?
[20:27] When is that going to be provided? What
was discussed? Why was the timeline
[20:31] given to Wednesday? The first I've heard
about a deadline for dogs to move was
[20:35] today.
Again, I've been involved with the
[20:37] shelter for a decade.
The state agency took significant
[20:42] regulatory action against a city shelter
on Thursday. Again, you guys met. You
[20:46] made discussions,
but you didn't involve those who've been
[20:50] involved for a long time. I have
questions about the dogs themselves and
[20:53] what's going to happen to them. What's
happening to Licorice? She's on stray
[20:57] technically. She's not even been at the
shelter for 10 days. She's been
[21:00] transferred. We're actively trying to
find her owners because she was recently
[21:04] stay. What is the plan with Thomasville
if she works around?
[21:10] Who's responsible for the medical care
going forward? What medical care are
[21:12] they going to get? You've asked about
medical cost brought up in the room. How
[21:16] much do things cost? The dogs that were
sent the eight of them over $3,000 in
[21:21] veterary care could be provided. Are we
going to be reimbured? Is that a
[21:24] discussion?
Will Thomasville Humane be adopting
[21:27] these dogs out? Are they transferring
them to other organizations with Best
[21:30] Friends Animal Society they partner
with? Are they simply housing them
[21:33] temporarily? Can you give me those
answers? And why again are people who've
[21:38] been working volunteering at the shelter
for rescue placements for over a decade
[21:42] not brought to the conversation until
afterwards?
[21:45] We understand the stop board was issued.
We've been a volunteer at the shelter
[21:48] for a long time. I've been in this room
to complain about standards. I've known
[21:52] more many more of you than off record.
We've dealt with the insecure the in
[21:57] incompatible shelter needs are what we
see is there. However, why was he
[22:01] passing out the phone call? The very
first one. I encourage you to think
[22:04] about that thought every single day.
Again, we've been your partner for two
[22:09] decades.
Trust cannot be rebuilt when
[22:13] communication is absent. Early this
year, a rescue relationship was damaged
[22:16] related to puppies at the shelter that
were there before the stop order and
[22:20] meant to leave the day after. It took
three weeks for the city to advocate for
[22:24] those dogs to be released to us.
Unfortunately, it took another week for
[22:27] the stop order to be ended at 34 days.
Those dogs waited another four months to
[22:32] leave for rescue because we lost a
rescue partner. That rescue partner
[22:36] pulled 12 dogs from the shelter last
year. They had not pulled a single one
[22:39] since that first stop order. We spent
months trying to rebuild that
[22:43] relationship.
Another rescue was meaning to visit in
[22:46] September. That was just confirmed last
week. I had to tell them they don't need
[22:50] to come now. I had to turn away a
potential adopter and turn them to
[22:54] another local shelter and rescue
organization.
[22:56] There are dogs in this community need to
help. For 39 days year this year in
[23:01] counting, the city has been unable to
provide animal services to its community
[23:04] because of stop orders. 39 days. I will
post that and regularly communicate that
[23:09] to you. This is the second stop order
2026. I'm all for repairs to be done. I
[23:15] support it. I can tell you about
thousand things that could be done if
[23:18] you want to listen. It's great that we
have plans, but you haven't once again
[23:22] picked up the phone and talked to me as
I want transparency. How long are the
[23:27] repairs in progress? We might wave on
funds, but they've been designs and
[23:31] thoughts. Again, you haven't encouraged
people who've been out there for two
[23:34] decades to be involved in the
conversation
[23:38] as it says for what is the timeline. I
know you can't give an answer, so I'm
[23:41] not going to continue on that topic.
But the community deserves to know these
[23:45] answers. The taxpayers deserve to know
the donors to be pass again. $3,000 of
[23:51] medical medical expenses gone. We have
to account for it. We have to tell
[23:55] people what happened to it. The
volunteers and rescue partners in this
[23:58] room tonight and those that are present
for years have passed deserve answers.
[24:02] This is a publicly funded shelter. VHAS
has been a willing partner for decades.
[24:07] VHAS and the rescue partners we work
with locally have covered $15,000 of
[24:11] veterary expenses this year. An
additional $1,500 of physical items, not
[24:17] including food and treats and toys,
blankets, etc. have been donated. Over
[24:21] 2,000 pounds of food and treats have
been donated by the local rescues and
[24:26] our donors to a shelter this year alone.
Additionally, just last week, I was
[24:30] asked to bring more food because there
were concerns about paying a food bill.
[24:33] 225 pounds of food was brought last
week.
[24:37] We provided volunteer hours on countless
times, fosters, network, transportation,
[24:42] etc.
What are you going to do with your
[24:45] medical rescues? We're your your point
blank. I have three of your medical
[24:49] fosters in my home. we take willingly
and incur those costs. You have a bill
[24:54] for $1,000 eped related to one of them
on emergency care walk. Think about that
[25:00] in the future when you want to isolate
your partners. I am angry. I'm
[25:04] exhausted. I'm heartbroken. Things have
to change. If you want a partnership, it
[25:09] is not excluding the people in the room
who do the work. It starts with
[25:13] communication. It continues with
transparency.
[25:17] And we want a seat at the table. Tell us
the plan. Tell us what the Thomasville
[25:22] agreement has been made with city with
GDA. What are the details? What are the
[25:26] future for the eight dogs who left
today? Give a timeline the best of
[25:30] possible. We're tracking for repairs.
I'm glad again there are repairs
[25:35] happening. There are so many that can
happen. The well-being of the dogs. Tell
[25:39] the community your actual plans.
Be transparent to everyone. The dogs in
[25:45] this community deserve better. The
community deserves transparency and your
[25:49] volunteers will only be here so long
without all of that.
[25:53] » Thank you.
>> Can I just ask a question of her so she
[25:58] can give us a little bit more
information for clarity? Is that okay?
[26:02] That I appreciate you. Um Janet, quick
question for you.
[26:06] » Can you come can you can
>> you can't hear me? I am loud.
[26:10] » Protocol.
>> We want you to come say your name.
[26:13] » Le Moore with guardians. I'm coming to
ask a question. the microphone cuz I
[26:17] need it. All right.
You said that with these animals that
[26:23] are going to Thomasville, right? You
gave a bunch of numbers and I was trying
[26:27] to follow, but was it was $3,000 of your
funds on those dogs that are going to
[26:34] Thomasville. So, we gave away
>> They're already gone. They're already
[26:36] gone.
>> Okay. So, you your your
[26:39] » your own us or our rescue partners
directly locally that we work with. Yes.
[26:44] And I I want to clarify something. So,
Elizabeth made
[26:47] » You don't have a microphone.
>> I know. I'm loud enough. Mary Katherryn
[26:51] Kimp, I think y'all can all hear me. Um
Brown, sorry. Mary Catherine Brown. Um
[26:57] so,
Elizabeth wanted to make clarification
[27:02] on we need to let you guys know what
dogs we're working on. It's every dog in
[27:06] your shelter. Always.
>> I was getting there.
[27:08] » Every dog.
That's why there's $3,000 floating out
[27:13] in somebody else's shelter now
of ours.
[27:17] » We can't sit a dog without some basic
information related to that dog
[27:20] depending basication rings, etc. So,
every dog is our policy that was passed
[27:25] in January is the guy who's gay. So, we
do that.
[27:28] » So, to to kind of
>> clarify,
[27:30] » can I ask this? What what vet bill what
vet bills has the city paid in the last
[27:34] like 15 years? Well, I think we paid
them, but y'all definitely reimbursed
[27:39] us. So, that's kind of a trick question.
>> Okay, good clarity.
[27:43] » May I ask how much the city funds the
shelter
[27:47] » and why the repairs take two years?
>> No, we're talking So, I don't want to.
[27:54] So, if you we you talking about the
shelter, what about the structure that
[27:58] we're in right this moment? We have
repairs that need to be done to this
[28:02] building right this moment since the
storm for two years. It's not just the
[28:06] shelter. It's buildings. We had an a I
forgot her name on Thursday.
[28:12] » But the state won't shut you down if
it's not done.
[28:15] » Does anybody live here?
>> Does any
[28:20] I I hear what you're saying, but we're
talking about repairs. We're talking
[28:23] about funds from the [clears throat]
federal government. All of this stuff
[28:27] sometimes.
>> So, but do we have those funds to repair
[28:30] the shelter? But we're saying we're
going to repair it regardless of if we
[28:34] have the funds or not.
>> We're going to begin work on it. Mary
[28:37] Catherine, yes. I mean, she's already
out there. I haven't been out there, but
[28:44] I've emailed the necessary persons and
they're responding to me. Get the work
[28:50] started.
>> And the plan is to reopen the shelter
[28:53] » as soon as possible. And then the the
ones that's in Thomasville, the the I'm
[29:00] sorry.
>> You said the tentative date is September
[29:02] 30th
>> to do what? No, ma'am.
[29:04] » No, we didn't give a tenative date.
That's the to have you said.
[29:09] » No, no, that's the reason why this is
when they said they were going to settle
[29:13] the insurance.
>> That's September 30th.
[29:16] » That's the reason I don't want to I said
again, we don't know a date and I don't
[29:22] want to give a date based off of my
opinion because my opinion doesn't mean
[29:26] anything. So, I can't give you that. But
however, what has been going back and
[29:31] forth with Thomasville, they're just a
holding place until the repairs are
[29:37] finished and they're supposed to be
moving back to our facility once it
[29:41] passes.
>> That's the first time that we've heard
[29:44] that for
>> shelter or they are.
[29:50] » So, are they going to be made to sit
there? No. Sorry. Are they going to be
[29:54] made to sit there? Because if you're
transferring them back here, technically
[29:58] they're still city property
hazel.
[30:02] So are they going to have to sit there
till you finish repairs?
[30:06] » Um I don't know and I don't want to give
you an answer.
[30:09] » Were they agency transfer
>> from our agency to theirs?
[30:15] I don't know that question, but I think
they may be because license to license.
[30:21] But hey, here we go. Officer Brown, our
spokesman. Thank you, Jesus, for being
[30:26] in here. Can you can you come forward,
please, if you wouldn't mind? He's our
[30:32] spokesman for the city.
>> He's the guy.
[30:37] » Ask my question from over there.
>> Caus me trouble.
[30:39] » I'm sorry.
>> I didn't I didn't see you when you
[30:42] walked in.
>> You're fine. You're fine.
[30:47] » Ask my question.
It's fine. I'll get there. So we are
[30:52] shipping from
>> Hey,
[30:55] » we're transfer
>> transferring. So what does that mean
[30:58] exactly?
>> We transfer
[31:02] those elements to time management.
>> We're no longer responsible for those
[31:08] elements
>> until the repairs are finished and then
[31:10] they come back over.
>> That's right now.
[31:13] » That's what the plan
>> as right now. Yes.
[31:15] » Okay.
>> How is that written in the contract? So,
[31:17] you have an agency transfer that is
required by the Department of A that
[31:20] says it's going from my agency license
to this agency license. Therefore, all
[31:24] liability is then transferred from this
license to that license. How do we write
[31:27] that contract that says it's for a
specific amount of time that's
[31:29] unidentified and that we're going to
take them back?
[31:34] » Exactly how you just said.
>> I love that. Do you have a copy of that?
[31:37] » Not on,
>> but it's been done. And so both
[31:39] Thomasville has that copy that states
that they are just a temporary holding
[31:43] facility and that they are holding on to
care custody and control in the interim,
[31:46] but that return will be done at some
point in the future.
[31:53] » I feel like you're not.
>> All right. [laughter]
[31:56] » There's no way you wrote that into a
contract.
[31:58] » Do we do we have any?
>> But we'd love to have a copy of it.
[32:01] » Okay.
>> So, I'll tell you this. If you tell them
[32:04] it's a contract, you better produce a
contract. I want you to be clear with
[32:08] this room. I drilled you hard today.
Don't stand there and tell this audience
[32:13] that there's a contract. There's not
one. I'm going to be the first one you
[32:16] going to deal with.
>> Is there a contract?
[32:20] » Oh, it's
>> we have an agreement with them to
[32:24] transfer
them over to
[32:28] » So, statement of understanding then is
that what we have
[32:31] » written?
>> No, I'm No, no, stay with me for a
[32:34] second. I I hear everybody else, but I'm
just asking that question. Is it a
[32:38] statement of understanding in writing
>> or is it
[32:41] » is it a verbal contract with verbal
agreement with them
[32:46] » to to everyone that is
>> No, it can't be Hold on for a second,
[32:50] Mr. It can't be completely written
because if the if the animals leave our
[32:54] facility, they must have paperwork
transferred to
[32:59] » you asking what happened in the whole
process. That's what you're trying to
[33:01] ask me.
>> I want to I want to make it as
[33:03] transparent as this. So when they left
our facility,
[33:07] » did we we should have did paperwork to
show them going to the
[33:10] » outtake form?
>> That's what I'm there's an outtake forms
[33:12] to transfer them over to Thomas Humane
Society.
[33:16] » This typical thing that we do for any
other transfer or movement of the Thank
[33:21] you.
>> Yes. And that was their email. That's
[33:24] what it was stated.
>> Okay.
[33:26] » Okay. Y'all received the council,
received the email
[33:29] coming back
>> because that's how we transfer animals
[33:32] out to other rescues.
>> And the verbiage actually states on
[33:35] those those transfer forms that care,
custody, and control is now in
[33:39] » transferred overact. And so, yes, they
could out of the kindness of their heart
[33:43] and I don't know why they wouldn't
because nobody's fighting over dogs
[33:46] right now. None of us can easily talk to
us because we're not the point of
[33:50] contact. So,
>> yes. So the only point of contact that
[33:53] we have that should be making contact is
officer Brown and as soon as we have the
[33:59] rest of those details.
>> So what happens to those two that have
[34:02] rescued one of our rescues? Like because
he just transferred them to Thomas
[34:06] Humane. So what I mean
>> when you say those two that's including
[34:11] the eight total that you
>> two dogs that were stepped up after the
[34:16] stop order.
>> I don't understand.
[34:17] » No, but why why not? Why not? Why am I
being told that now I have to go to
[34:22] Chandler through Brown? I have a phone.
>> No, because he's he's our
[34:28] » Oh, you guys have a contract with
Thomasville. Is that what you're saying?
[34:30] » No.
>> So, they're your partner.
[34:33] » Officer Brown.
>> I'm asking
[34:36] » and I'm trying to give it. Officer Brown
is the person that's assigned to ask
[34:41] questions and do whatever dealing with
the department of a Thomasville or
[34:46] anybody dealing with the shelter. But
Thomas Gill Humane is a 501c3. I can
[34:51] pick up the phone and call them at my
own will in a court. Why are they
[34:54] refusing to work with somebody that's a
citizen?
[34:57] » They're not refusing. What they want is
our point of contact for the city of
[35:02] Perth, which is officer Brown.
>> But I'm not calling on behalf of the
[35:06] city of H. Hold on. Let me let me stop
that real quick because I want to make
[35:08] some clarification. Hold on. You're
still at that microphone. You got this.
[35:11] So, let me ask Brown. How many animals
have you as the spokesperson, as animal
[35:18] control, as the person over the the
shelter bequested by our our council
[35:23] and the chief? Um, how many animals have
you personallyworked
[35:28] and moved to other rescues?
>> As today,
[35:34] » you personally, not through VAS, Brown
has moved from this rescue license to
[35:38] this rescue license, not including
Thomasville, but any other time. When
[35:42] have you personally moved a dog from
point A to point B? Not ever. Okay. So,
[35:47] when have you personally you as a
spokesperson
[35:52] with any other organization for the
movement of the analyst that maybe just
[35:56] didn't come to fruition? How often does
that happen in your as a spokesperson
[36:00] for this organization? How often does
that happen
[36:03] » recently?
>> Just give me from the entire time you've
[36:06] been animal control as a spokesperson
here. And I'm about to defend you here
[36:09] in a second. So, don't be too sad. I
promise.
[36:11] » No. You're fine. You're fine. U let me
go back.
[36:20] I can't be exactly wrong. I'm not going
to lie to you. I can't
[36:24] » But the reason for that is because
you're not a live release coordinator,
[36:27] right? You're an animal control officer.
That's what you do. So, your job is
[36:31] legal. We're going to protect the people
of our city. We're going to go get that
[36:35] dog that is being crazy and biting
somebody. We're going to go try to
[36:39] prosecute somebody who is treating a dog
poorly. Right? Your job is law
[36:42] enforcement and your job is kind of the
overall management of the shelter as it
[36:47] stands right now. Right? But live
release coordination in most shelters is
[36:51] its own separate designation. So it is
the people who work those networks, know
[36:56] all the other rescues, have been doing
this for decades, have decades in their
[37:00] pocket that says, "I know this rescue is
really good with three-legged dogs, so
[37:04] I'm going to call up Jenny on her cell
phone when she's cooking dinner for her
[37:07] kids and say, "Hey, Jenny, can you take
this dog that I got? This is what we
[37:10] have here. You've got a license. Since
we've got a license, let's move them.
[37:13] And pay, how many animals in the last 6
months has VHOSWorked
[37:19] as a live release coordinator for our
city?
[37:22] » That's our numbers, girl. About 40.
>> Okay. So, we went from 40 to none. And
[37:28] the problem is we now have a conduit
that is in between this ability for your
[37:33] live release board names. How many over
the last decade? [clears throat] Give me
[37:36] a spitball number. I know that's
ridiculous, but
[37:38] » we're we're in problem with the five
digits. So, if they are the sole people,
[37:44] here's your your sole rescue that is
acting as a live release coordinator,
[37:48] which is a designated position,
>> which is the designated position in most
[37:54] no kill shelters, which we've been
designated, right? We're on their kill
[37:56] shelter now. So in that situation, we've
now created a barrier which is causing
[38:02] frustration with the girls who put on
put their time, effort, energy, and
[38:07] believe for this city to move these dogs
and have worked for these these networks
[38:11] and the opportunity to speak to all
these other rescues. It's like you
[38:14] scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, and
we're all going to get along. We're
[38:17] going to move dogs because everybody has
the same common theme. They're not law
[38:20] enforcement. So their job is not to run
and go get the dog that has bit somebody
[38:23] and quarantine them. They're two totally
separate entities that are required for
[38:28] a nokill shelter to be successful. What
we've done, unfortunately, I think just
[38:32] truly out of ignorance and and a lack of
understanding of how these organizations
[38:36] traditionally work. We've kind of put
all this on Brown who's like squishing
[38:40] under the pressure because it's not
really fair. like we handed we said to
[38:43] him the decades that these girls have
worked in order to be able to get these
[38:47] networking and and to know all these
other rescues and to put their heart
[38:51] into these dogs. We've now said he's
responsible.
[38:55] That's not really what animal control
officers do. That's why they have live
[38:59] release coordinator. So, I just wanted
to make sure that we were all
[39:01] appreciating there's two separate
denotions here. It's not. We can't yell
[39:05] and scream at him and we also can't
block them from doing their job because
[39:10] if these girls decide this is too hard
and I can't effectively do my job and
[39:14] the actions of this one officer trying
to do our job is affecting our ability
[39:18] to keep our promises to these other
rescues. They're going to walk and they
[39:23] should walk and then we are all in a
world of trouble and it will look bad on
[39:26] him and it will look bad on them and it
will look bad on all of you and the
[39:29] taxpayers will be mad because we'll be
paying money that these other people
[39:31] would then pay. But that's it. Got it.
[39:37] Thank y'all.
>> Oh, [laughter] wait, wait, wait. No, no,
[39:41] no. I was just addressing that. Hold on.
I got more I got more questions.
[39:44] » No, [laughter]
no, no. Serious.
[39:47] » So, let me ask you. We were asking about
the $3,000 because I want everybody to
[39:51] understand, especially anybody who's
reporting this or sending it off to
[39:53] somebody else, whatever. $3,000. Your
organization, you received the
[39:59] donations. You've got your rescue
partners. That money went into these
[40:03] animals that were then just transferred
by an animal control officer as a
[40:06] spokesperson to another rescue. So now
when you go back as a good steward of
[40:11] the funding that you get to your donors,
you're going to say,
[40:16] "Sorry, we used $3,000 of your money um
because our our council put somebody
[40:22] else in this position and we're not
working well right now and I've lost
[40:28] eight dogs that had this funding in it
that we were hoping to get somewhere." I
[40:32] want that to be underscored because
donations are hard to come by and those
[40:36] donations mean our taxpayers like myself
and the rest of you in here aren't
[40:40] having to fund that. This is free money
that they're working for that that one
[40:46] person who doesn't understand because
this is not his world. It's just handed
[40:50] to somebody else as a spokesperson for
all of you who are supposed to be good
[40:54] stewards of taxpayer money. So there's
not just these people who are angry.
[40:59] It's not just the subsidiary rescues
that are angry. Your taxpayers, if they
[41:03] understood that their money that goes to
you, that they think they have an animal
[41:08] shelter, they think they have somebody
who's coming to get some stuff done. And
[41:10] it turns out that it's not. It's the
behind the scenes and somebody making
[41:14] decisions from donations that they're
receiving. That's not okay. Just on a
[41:19] business level, forget the dogs. Who
cares? Nobody cares about animals. Think
[41:21] about the money. That is screwing their
ability to get the donations, which by
[41:26] the way keep our city. So, we are not
just hitting crazy animal people with
[41:31] all their emotions. We're hitting their
ability to keep our city going and keep
[41:36] them safe. My next question for you, we
are closed, right? Stop order, nothing
[41:40] can come in. DOA said that we have
certain legal requirements over there,
[41:45] chief and soon to be chief chief almost.
Um,
[41:50] what happens when we have a bike dog?
What's our plan? Good
[41:53] » question.
>> What's our plan? I've told this panel
[41:57] from the getgo, I'm law enforcement. I
know nothing about animal control. I've
[42:01] been honest with Miss Mary Kay and the
rest of them from the very getgo.
[42:05] » We're going to call you.
>> So,
[42:07] » listen, I answer. You guys know it.
>> That is a very good question. That
[42:09] bothers me. Is it subject to happen? It
is. How would I handle it? I'll be done.
[42:16] » So, we have a problem because that legal
so both the city and the county which is
[42:20] I know not in your purview and I'll have
that fight some other day but in the
[42:24] city and the county we both have a
requirement that if a dog bites somebody
[42:28] we have to be able to quarantine them if
that dog is vicious and we have to
[42:31] quarantine them long enough that we can
make sure that no rabies symptomology
[42:34] shows up and right now I'm sure you guys
have seen in the news we've had several
[42:37] rabies cases that have come about. It
used to be I would say we've been a
[42:41] rabies pace since 1972 when it was down
the border. But now we have them close
[42:45] to home which means that this is an
actual health risk that we have to take
[42:49] into consideration. Where are we putting
them if we have no containment?
[42:55] And what's our what's our protocols
going to be for our officers?
[42:58] » We're going to call you.
>> No.
[43:01] » No.
>> But so I'm I'm going to take that one.
[43:04] » Seriously. Seriously, y'all. These are
important questions and these are things
[43:09] that when you started off the whole
thing is communication
[43:15] and you all do a beautiful job, a good
job and the city is blessed to have you.
[43:23] I think
the word that I got was late Friday. I
[43:28] think it was uh
7 something.
[43:34] Anyway, when the stock order all of a
sudden come and said nothing and the
[43:40] city was put in a place that they had to
do something right then because they
[43:45] have to go out what the state said. And
I think where the problem come in is
[43:51] communication that we really and truly
should have talked to the men's and
[43:57] women who talk with the who handle the
dogs who who go out there and people
[44:03] sometime make mistakes by working too
quick to get things done. So I want to
[44:09] apologize that these things was done. I
can assure you that somebody will be
[44:14] getting in touch with Thomasville. make
sure that those animals are took care of
[44:19] and come back here. Hopefully that uh
the money that was put in them will come
[44:26] back and the work that you all do can
continue
[44:31] once this building is to put in place.
My question to the mayor was now when is
[44:39] this going to be done? Personally, I
thought the building was perfect. I
[44:44] didn't know that
the Lord had decided to blow it over.
[44:48] But now that it's being done, there is a
process and there's
[44:55] outline saying what they're going to do.
If you all would allow us to start
[45:01] getting those things in place, somebody
will be talking to you to tell what
[45:05] those steps are and what those thoughts
I mean when you can bring them back.
[45:10] Plus,
we'll try to get in touch with
[45:13] Thomasville to make sure that you know
exactly what's going on with it.
[45:19] » I'm going to visit Thomas. They're open
shelter like they're open on Saturday.
[45:24] » Well, let us let us talk with them
[clears throat] so we don't have any
[45:28] confusion and somebody has to have a a
communication line between each other.
[45:35] That's what's going on. Sometimes when
people don't talk, this is where the
[45:40] problems come in. So this was supposed
to be a informal
[45:49] uh meeting tonight and mainly to tell
you all what [clears throat] was going
[45:54] on or to ask answer question that we
could without confusing
[46:01] the pot any more than what it is.
>> Mr. Dwayne, can I ask you a question?
[46:06] Yes.
>> Before about two or three years ago, how
[46:09] many times had you ever seen me come to
a city council meeting?
[46:15] » Never.
>> Never.
[46:17] » Never.
>> So, and I've been volunteering out there
[46:19] for 14 years now.
>> Yeah.
[46:21] » So, there was a good working
relationship at some point. There was
[46:25] because I never had to call on any of
you guys.
[46:29] » But at some point down the line, I don't
know what happened.
[46:31] » When was that? But but three years ago,
>> but that
[46:37] » but I I don't know what happened, but
what I'm telling you is that there has
[46:41] been a lack of communication and we do
feel like we're being shut out,
[46:44] » right? But
>> and
[46:46] » but these this type of thing right here,
guys, these bumps in the road sometimes
[46:51] can actually help us more than hurt us
because talking now
[46:58] and and like she say, I've been given
reports and what's going on now. We need
[47:04] to know what's happening. This this can
take place. That's what he says starting
[47:10] off. Before these things are done, we
have to do it. Yes sir.
[47:14] » I can answer
I can answer
[47:20] » when the police department was issued
the animal control pound.
[47:26] » Mhm.
>> It should have never been placed under
[47:29] the police department.
>> That's not when it happened.
[47:32] » What?
>> That's not when it happened.
[47:34] » That's exactly when it happened.
>> It wasn't. I'll tell you when it
[47:37] happened.
>> Our um ordinances are from 2012. That's
[47:41] correct.
>> It's been that long. It's been so the
[47:44] old council before I even came to this
state, the old council agreed to have
[47:51] the uh the shel animal shelter fall
underneath the category for the police
[47:57] department.
>> That's what happened.
[48:00] » But it was put on me just last year.
>> It was put on not last year, the year
[48:03] before. But it was
>> clarification. This problem started
[48:05] before I had correct and cleaned that
place up.
[48:09] » That is correct. This problem started in
January or February of 2024.
[48:20] That's when this issue happened. January
or February of 2024. You didn't get
[48:26] » wasn't under there.
>> It was still on the police department
[48:29] » in 2014.
>> It's been on the police department since
[48:32] 2012.
>> So what was the catalyst? You're going
[48:35] to identify a catalyst. What was that?
>> Changing the leadership control.
[48:40] It doesn't matter what the chief. So, so
I just I want I want y'all to understand
[48:44] it does not matter if the old chief
wasn't signed or not. The old council in
[48:49] 2012
are the ones who assigned it to the
[48:54] police department.
>> I agree. They did it on paper. They
[48:57] never took action.
>> Then guess what? Then we messed up. We
[49:01] shouldn't do anything on paper that
we're not we're not willing to follow
[49:05] through because that's that's focus.
>> You are correct. Y'all council did it
[49:08] and they never followed through with
anything they said it was going to do.
[49:12] They put stuff on paper and that's the
>> No, 2012 was It was on paper in 2012
[49:18] for 8 years and it they never
>> That's cuz you never That's cuz you
[49:22] never read the charter.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[49:24] » Yes, ma'am. Wait, y'all. Wait, y'all.
>> Don't accuse me not reading.
[49:28] » I'm telling you. It's been in the
charter since 2012.
[49:32] » Wait a minute. Okay. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.
>> Go ahead, ma'am.
[49:35] » Yes, ma'am.
Department of Agriculture coming back,
[49:38] pardon me.
>> When is the Department of Agriculture
[49:40] coming back to make sure that these
>> we don't know yet.
[49:44] » Okay. Um Department of Agriculture
assess fines and penalties.
[49:49] » Are y'all fine? I mean, if they found
you deficiencies,
[49:53] » no ma'am, we didn't get anything.
>> No, ma'am. If you don't address this,
[49:57] you could be.
>> Yeah.
[49:59] » That's that's what they that's what was
going on here. But listen y'all.
[50:03] » Well, I do I do have one more question
leading to what we were just talking
[50:07] about. So, we have had some rocky rocky
situations lately.
[50:12] » The other people that are pulling from
you guys. Now, we just got hit right in
[50:17] this meeting with a list of demands that
you guys want us to do from here on out.
[50:21] That's fine.
>> I wouldn't say demands.
[50:23] » That's fine. It were they were demands
in in my
[50:26] » required after I've been working with
you guys for 14 years. They kind of look
[50:29] like demands. So, did we also require
that of Thomasville today?
[50:35] » Or is this just new because we don't
want because to your partners right
[50:39] here, it looks like you don't want us
involved. That's what it looks like.
[50:43] That's what I'm trying to convey to you
guys.
[50:46] » No, you you want the partners involved.
I again, I think the whole thing, y'all,
[50:53] is the communication. People not talking
to each other, not telling me what's
[50:58] going on.
As I constantly tell sometime my working
[51:04] partners, we have too many chiefs and
not enough Indian. I agree.
[51:09] » And everybody want to know what's going
on. But when we let people know who's
[51:15] actually in the trenches doing the work,
what's going on and and let you know
[51:21] what's taking place, you won't have
these situations. So I ask you I asked
[51:27] you let's work together and there we
we'll we can get to it.
[51:32] » So did you know about the meeting on
Friday with department?
[51:36] » I didn't know about no meeting. The only
thing I know about was when I was
[51:41] contacted that the animal shelter was
closed. I said again is what I said
[51:47] » right
>> and I said well now wait what's going on
[51:49] at where the stone got. I said, "Well,
whoa, wait a minute now. They just put
[51:54] some air after dishes and all that out
there. Then you mean the place is tore
[51:58] up again, right?"
>> Yes. And this time they demanded that
[52:02] something be done immediately. This is
why you all should have been contacting
[52:08] them. Who should have been the the the
gobetween with you? I don't know. That
[52:16] has to be done. And that's why I say
these meetings, I'm a firm believer.
[52:21] » Do we know who was in the meeting?
>> Can I interject here? My name has been
[52:26] thrown around a few times even though I
am there, but I'm not there. You know
[52:29] what I mean? So, I need to clarify first
of all that I sent those demands or
[52:33] directions, if you will, in a me in an
email to the VHOS email as well as
[52:38] council um before lunchtime today, which
gave you over 24 hours because it said
[52:44] Wednesday by 5:00 p.m. First of all,
second of all, I would just ask, you
[52:49] know, look around in the room and even
on the phone, who's phoning into this
[52:54] meeting, who's at that meeting tonight,
and you will see who is trying our best,
[52:59] our absolute best. Because if y'all
don't know, just the time and energy and
[53:02] effort that you spend with this shelter,
I devote to the city only coming on in
[53:06] January. I will tell you, I lose money
weekly with my employed job because I'm
[53:12] self-employed, and time is money when
you're self-employed. And this shelter
[53:16] this week has taken up a lot of time,
which I'm glad to do. That's the job
[53:19] that I signed up to do. But I would like
a little bit of the respect that we're
[53:23] trying to give y'all in return to us. I
am currently at home with my kids
[53:27] phoning in and trying my best to listen
and hear all of your concerns and answer
[53:32] and give appropriate solutions best that
I can. And that is all that I'm asking
[53:37] for y'all to do. Give us the same
respect back. a look around in the room
[53:41] and see who is willing to partner with
you all and try our best to move forward
[53:47] with this. I gave those directions
trying to propose a solution which you
[53:52] can ask any council member and any city
employee that I work with. That is my
[53:57] number one goal to give appropriate
feasible solutions for everyone involved
[54:01] no matter what department and what issue
is at hand. I gather all the information
[54:05] that I can and then try to give
solutions. That is all that I tried to
[54:09] do. That is all that I'm asking for
moving forward. And to your point
[54:13] earlier about, you know, every dog in
there is trying to be rescued. I
[54:17] understand that. I'm sorry if it didn't
come across that way. I understand that.
[54:20] What I meant was if they if it is
actively in motion, and I think I said
[54:24] those two words, but if it's actively in
motion, meaning you have confirmed
[54:28] someone who is very interested in a dog
to be rescued, like let us know that.
[54:34] and you and even like an estimated
timeline because I understand things can
[54:38] fall through the cracks. You know, they
might not fulfill that hole with another
[54:41] dog from another area. I understand
those things can happen. But if as long
[54:45] as we're in the know about some sort of
communication written and electronic,
[54:50] that's all that I was asking for. And
no, I don't want to put more on your
[54:54] plate. And I'm sorry if it feels that
way. I'm just trying to protect everyone
[54:58] who is adequately and appropriately
trying to partner together moving
[55:01] forward because no, I don't want to see
two decades of work and volunteer and
[55:06] service thrown down the drain because I
know that the city in our capacity
[55:11] cannot take it on without you guys. I'm
fully aware and I appreciate everything
[55:15] that you do. Well, and we appreciate
everything that you do and you've been
[55:19] very responsive to me when I reach out
to you and I'm that was not uh directed
[55:24] towards you. But I I do want to say that
there's some gray area there too,
[55:28] Elizabeth. Sometimes we put money and
bedding into dogs based off behavior.
[55:33] You know, you might have a male dog at
the shelter that needs to be neutered um
[55:38] just for behavior reasons. So, it might
not always be that we put money in this
[55:43] dog because they've got a rescue party
that's super interested and ready to
[55:49] take them next week. Sometimes it's
because we want your people that are out
[55:52] there working every day to have a decent
I don't know interaction with the dogs
[55:58] because sometimes when you got females
in heat, you got males out there going
[56:02] crazy, they're getting out, they're
tearing up kennels, they're I mean
[56:05] they're acting crazy. So, it's not
always just based off rescue interest.
[56:09] whenever we put money into these dogs,
but how much money does the city
[56:14] actually put into the medical at all?
Just as just in general,
[56:17] » I don't have those figures for you,
ma'am.
[56:19] » Is it possibly zero? May I ask?
>> Well, I will tell you it's not zero.
[56:23] » Okay.
>> It's not zero.
[56:24] » Is it close to zero?
>> Um
[56:28] I don't I can't give you those figures.
And the reason why cuz a few months ago
[56:32] there was bills that came in and some
covered and but that's why I'm saying I
[56:36] don't know the exact figures. the person
that knows. I'm not going to say it
[56:41] because she does accounting. She does
she does pay accounts payable. That's
[56:45] why I say we need some of the names.
>> The $3,000 I've spent.
[56:51] » It can't be. And it was $16,000.
>> And I knew I had one more ask of
[56:57] Elizabeth. Elizabeth and I talked. She
was not aware of the stock on Thursday
[57:02] and she did not know what was going on
Friday morning. So I know she wasn't
[57:05] involved in the meeting. Mr. Jones, were
you involved in the meeting?
[57:09] » Let if I know the city clerk. Okay.
Okay.
[57:13] » And Miss Bernice, I mean, what about
you?
[57:15] » There was no meeting.
>> Okay. So, I don't know who put it out
[57:19] there that there was a meeting.
>> Okay.
[57:21] » I came in a little after 7 and at 77
on Friday morning, I had an email from
[57:31] Officer Ram with the stop order
attached.
[57:34] » Okay.
>> So, Why was nothing on Thursday evening
[57:38] at city council?
>> I didn't know anything about came in on
[57:42] Thursday. So
>> I I don't know. I can't answer that. I
[57:46] truly cannot.
>> But the only way I knew about this was
[57:50] an email Friday morning and officer
Brown said, "I do not remember the
[57:55] mayor's email. Can you
>> meaning?" So So when we say meeting, we
[58:02] need to make sure that this wasn't a
qual. You talking about just people
[58:06] sitting down having conversations?
>> What was the meeting?
[58:09] » No, that's what that's what I'm saying
cuz I wasn't at the meeting. Mr. Johnson
[58:13] wasn't at the meeting. Elizabeth wasn't
at the meeting. And that's three people
[58:17] right there to in order to make the
point. So just
[58:20] » Elizabeth over the shelter.
>> Is that
[58:25] » technically she would be
>> That's strange. Okay. But there was well
[58:30] when I when you say a meeting I put the
agenda out there and let everybody know
[58:35] but there was not this type of meeting
the department of agriculture come
[58:44] » had to come see
>> that was the brown though which is which
[58:47] is appropriate because he's the animal
control officer but I guess what I
[58:50] really want the council to hear and
hopefully stick in your pocket for the
[58:54] next time the only rescue that is
working the I've released side of this
[59:00] is veh. If I as guardians wanted to pull
a dog, I call Janet or I text M. If they
[59:07] need help with a dog, they're going to
text me. All of those things don't go
[59:10] through Brown. So, the fact that we
put Brown in this position and said all
[59:16] of this weight goes on you and now you
figure it out. That poor man's doing the
[59:19] best that he can, but we sidestep the
actual people who do it entirely and
[59:24] none of this would have been an issue.
If they ran into a stressful situation
[59:28] and couldn't do it, it doesn't come down
to Thomasville. It comes down to hey
[59:31] heart, hey Boore, hey guys, we got to do
something. We got to get this taken care
[59:35] of because that is how we have done it
for a decade. Well, then longer, but you
[59:38] know, the rest of them come in the day.
So, in this situation, I'm hoping that
[59:42] you will take away that this is not what
an animal control officer does. And we
[59:46] have put this man in a a position of
spokesperson without having any
[59:50] knowledge about what he's supposed to
do. The department of a does not care
[59:53] about rep say that because someone quote
me. The department of a
[59:58] has a bunch of stuff on their plate.
Rescues and the movement of animals and
[1:00:02] whether or not the live release occurs
isn't really top of their priority.
[1:00:06] Right? For our citizens it is. For our
rescues it is. And their understanding
[1:00:12] of our inner structure is not
necessarily what they're going to be
[1:00:15] making their decisions on. So when Brown
says, "Hey, I'm going to move those dogs
[1:00:18] to where our our evacuation point is,
they're going to say, "Check the box.
[1:00:22] Love it. That works. It's all legal,
right?" But then the people who have
[1:00:26] been working under the table without the
acknowledgement that they should have
[1:00:29] forward funding all of this, they end up
getting stuck holding the back and they
[1:00:33] won't do it again. I have heard these
ladies complain about things 10 years
[1:00:38] and what I got was not a complaint. What
I got was, I can't do it anymore. We're
[1:00:42] going to lose them because we are not
acknowledging them as the most intricral
[1:00:48] part of our successful system. Not
Brown, not the council, not the
[1:00:53] taxpayers, the most intricral part of
our system. They are why animals
[1:00:58] survive. They are how animals get out.
That is how we network. It has nothing
[1:01:02] to do with Brown. It has nothing to do
with the partner bag. It has nothing to
[1:01:06] do with council.
>> It is them. Okay,
[1:01:08] » but let me go back really quick about
what do we do with the doggies? Find
[1:01:12] somebody.
>> We'll talk about because we need your
[1:01:14] help.
>> Wait now. Uh, we got one more and then
[1:01:18] one more and then we got to go. Y'all
listen. Everybody saying the same thing,
[1:01:25] the communication. If it wasn't done
right this time by George, we have to
[1:01:30] get it right and we have to talk to you.
Only one chance to get it right.
[1:01:38] » No. No. Wait. Wait.
>> Are you trying to limit the amount of
[1:01:41] concern in the room?
>> No. No. No. No. Home eat dinner because
[1:01:46] » I am ready to go home and eat dinner.
But no.
[1:01:51] Wait a minute. Wait. One second. Get a
little bit of order.
[1:01:54] » Hold it. Hold it. Listen.
>> This is what I've been saying. Hold for
[1:01:59] one second now. Just communication. And
I'm not saying
[1:02:04] everybody's been saying the same thing.
When this when this stop order came
[1:02:10] down, the city worked on it or whoever
worked on it and was passed down to the
[1:02:18] elected people and whoever made it the
city and I don't know who, but they did
[1:02:23] it and it should have been communicated
with them, the people that's working out
[1:02:29] there. It wasn't done. That's why I say
I apologize on behalf of whoever and let
[1:02:35] us make sure it don't happen again.
>> But it sounds like it didn't happen.
[1:02:40] Somebody's covering up because there's
no communication. There's nobody up here
[1:02:44] that's willing to say they had a meeting
and Georgia Department of Agriculture
[1:02:48] even step in. The facility has been in
disrepair way longer than before the
[1:02:53] storm.
>> They have hosted several outreach days
[1:02:56] where I personally have went out there.
I got this. I have went out there
[1:03:01] personally and walked animals with them
and I've seen the love they pour into
[1:03:05] that facility and although they didn't
have a very nice facility, they have
[1:03:09] made the most of it for several years
and I just don't believe it's fair for
[1:03:12] them to have to sit here and fight for
the right to do a volunteer job. None of
[1:03:17] these women are getting paid. They're
taking money out of their own pockets to
[1:03:21] fund animals
[1:03:25] » and and they're doing a good job. And
this is why I'm saying somebody cuz the
[1:03:31] people that has been dealing with it
should know a channel
[1:03:35] » take over and deal with it instead of
sliding it to somebody else.
[1:03:39] » Absolutely.
>> How much does the city fund the shelter?
[1:03:44] Why is it disrepair to begin with?
>> We fund the schools. We fund taxpayer
[1:03:49] money. I'm a taxpayer. I back up. I'm a
voter and I don't get rid of some of
[1:03:53] these people up here who are not willing
to success.
[1:03:57] because y'all are not doing your jobs.
>> Well, I wouldn't say that we're not
[1:04:02] doing our jobs.
>> Two years to appear. If you have a
[1:04:07] squeaky door at the house,
>> but did you know that the repairs needed
[1:04:11] to happen? Did you guys actually know?
>> Yes.
[1:04:14] » So, you knew for two years and they that
we were stuck in a bad spot.
[1:04:17] » We knew the repairs needed to be done.
We kept talking about the repairs. When
[1:04:22] it came down to funding, we could not do
the repairs because we did not have the
[1:04:27] funding to do it.
>> The budget for the following year.
[1:04:32] » I want to clarify that budget.
>> We even offered to donate which I I
[1:04:37] spoke with Miss Bernice about that. Miss
Bernice said it's insurance. Don't don't
[1:04:41] touch it. cuz that was that was one of
the procedures that we had because we
[1:04:46] could not do any repairs on anything
>> that was covered
[1:04:50] » to your limitation on the insurance.
>> We were instructed not to fix any
[1:04:57] building that was covered by the
insurance factors.
[1:05:03] » How that go?
>> Say again. Now that goal today,
[1:05:11] » we're shut down. So now it's a priority
because we
[1:05:16] » became a priority because the Georgia
Department of Agriculture bringing down
[1:05:19] your neck.
>> That's why I have a close working
[1:05:22] relationship with the Georgia Department
of Agriculture and they only step in
[1:05:25] when things get in a terrible situation.
Clearly they've been warning you and now
[1:05:29] there's an issue at that hand that
literally closed for animals to be
[1:05:33] transported elsewhere and there's no
documentation. There's definitely
[1:05:36] nobody's answer
>> for which what are you asking ma'am?
[1:05:39] » The department they had to have meet
with somebody. I mean somebody had to be
[1:05:43] there as a chain of command
>> give y'all the information that the
[1:05:48] place was being closed down and why that
was Brown though. Correct. Brown was
[1:05:51] there. He's the animal control officer
which is reasonable and that makes
[1:05:54] sense. the dissemination of information
after that is where we have a problem.
[1:05:57] » And I got it Friday morning. Anybody
knows me, I am straight up. I'm black
[1:06:01] and white. And I'm sick of this mess.
>> I have met with them. They dumped it on
[1:06:06] me. I told the mayor that I have no
knowledge of animal control or
[1:06:10] operations, but he insisted I run it. I
use this terminology. He throw me down a
[1:06:16] black hole without a flashlight. Did I
not tell y'all that?
[1:06:19] » The problem didn't start with the police
department. Let me crank something. It
[1:06:22] was put on there by a previous council.
>> That's correct.
[1:06:25] » Nobody proofed anything. I'm always
finding stuff that needs to be revised.
[1:06:29] I'm steady bringing attention. Nothing
being done. I am a police chief who
[1:06:34] gives a data about everybody. And I will
do the same for you I do for everybody
[1:06:39] else. But when you can't get nothing
done, I'm leaving here because of this
[1:06:43] because I have fought and thought and
false. It didn't start with us. It
[1:06:48] started WITH THE MAYOR. NOBODY WILL SAY
IT.
[1:06:52] I will. Y'all can run me off tomorrow,
but that's where it started at.
[1:06:57] » I will say previously I met with the
mayor that was not this mayor.
[1:07:02] » So, I had never met with the police
chief until this administration come
[1:07:06] over.
>> Well, I'm saying
[1:07:08] » she is correct. And I'm sorry, y'all.
>> You're good.
[1:07:13] » Yes, ma'am.
>> I've met with this lady here several
[1:07:16] times, but I think she knows it. I've
tried. I've worked with her. I want to
[1:07:20] tell you something. I won't do. I ain't
never fact down from nobody about
[1:07:24] nothing. If I tell you I'm going to do
it, you call me out on.
[1:07:30] We got a problem here. I didn't know
anything about till Friday. As far as a
[1:07:33] meeting, I don't know of a meeting. I
was not in a meeting. I don't know of
[1:07:37] anybody here having a meeting. I
honestly don't. I'm not offending
[1:07:40] anybody. Okay? I just want some
clarification here because we're just
[1:07:43] talking around the room. I don't know of
a meeting. As soon as I was aware of it,
[1:07:47] I went straight to Bernice's office. So,
a few minutes after 8, she said, "Honey,
[1:07:51] I just got a paper, too. What we gonna
do?" And I went back there and told the
[1:07:56] mayor, "I'm in."
>> Yes, ma'am.
[1:08:00] » Yes, ma'am.
>> There it is. Um, I said I wouldn't say
[1:08:04] anything. Sorry.
>> We miss you.
[1:08:06] » We have to.
>> We miss you.
[1:08:07] » I walked away. I walked away when Rene
last year.
[1:08:12] » Um, I'm a retired educator. I spent 20
Karen Bowen. I am the um CEO of another
[1:08:19] rescue in Hingley County, a part of
Adley. We have a shelter license for
[1:08:23] $40. I currently house 37 dogs. I'm 65
years old, retired. Um
[1:08:30] work
8 to 10 hours a day with 37 dogs. Over
[1:08:35] 50% of them are pets and black dogs that
nobody wants. Don't ask me why, but that
[1:08:40] came over 50% are from Jeff Davis County
and the Z worst that we were called when
[1:08:47] animal control could not or would not
step in. I had
[1:08:52] after I retired in 2011 from the school
system, I went to the then mayor um and
[1:08:58] said I had I started volunteering,
excuse me, 2011, I started volunteering.
[1:09:02] I guess that's where I really I mean I
knew Mary could impact in some of these
[1:09:05] but we started working together then as
a volunteer I saw some egregious things
[1:09:11] at that shelter awful dogs not being fed
I will say it I have said this to the
[1:09:16] mayor
>> days on end dogs not being fed um anyway
[1:09:21] so I went to then mayor and I said
listen I'm retired hire me I won't cost
[1:09:26] you anything but just $12 an hour when I
work and I can keep that shelter clean I
[1:09:31] can keep those dogs exercised and fed
and tend to their medical needs. At that
[1:09:35] time, I was not aware of how much um
will be us was there, but we were I was
[1:09:41] just getting education about what all
they did. But anyway, as an employee um
[1:09:46] we have a very good relationship. The
former mayor really not care what
[1:09:49] happened in that shelter as long as
things were going smooth. And there and
[1:09:53] guess what y'all? Everybody say that
there were no hiccups.
[1:09:57] the problems happened, the issues, the
the uh lack of communication has got has
[1:10:05] has occurred in the past two years and
everybody's dancing around about it.
[1:10:09] Don't want to blame the council member
because I know the conversations I've
[1:10:13] had with some of the individual council
council members and I know we have a
[1:10:17] newer now who I've not met, but I know
they were more than willing to look into
[1:10:20] things and try to do the right thing.
They were the problem is they weren't.
[1:10:26] They didn't know there had been too many
things going on by closed doors starting
[1:10:30] at the top decisions made without
informing the public without informing
[1:10:35] the even the people that are in that
should be in charge that should make
[1:10:39] decision and I said I wouldn't open my
mouth but you danced around it and it's
[1:10:43] right there for you. you have broken the
trust of the people that have done and
[1:10:48] done and done for the dogs and for the
community. And until somebody steps in
[1:10:54] and says this cannot continue to happen,
you as an individual do not get to make
[1:10:59] decisions about that shelter. Uh that's
where all the problems started and it
[1:11:03] started
when the American.
[1:11:07] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Yes.
[1:11:10] I'm sorry. That's
all I want to say.
[1:11:14] Well, again,
[1:11:19] please don't leave sh.
Please work with the city. Help us to
[1:11:26] start communicating like we should and
let's get it done. It can be done. um
[1:11:34] the things that it brought to their
attention as you said when you come and
[1:11:39] give those reports those reports should
mean something and they should uh if
[1:11:43] it's something that you need out there
something that's going on it should be
[1:11:47] brought for us or brought to us when we
have council meetings so it can be
[1:11:51] addressed again I think these kind of
meetings are good I think that when we
[1:11:57] hear each other's side and we able to
talk and and and get these things out in
[1:12:04] the open, it works. That's all I can
say.
[1:12:08] » I'm sorry. I totally you. Excellent. And
and if if we can get some procedures
[1:12:12] into place so that the same thing
doesn't keep happening that I struggled
[1:12:15] with for ever since, you know, as I
said, uh but the one thing we haven't
[1:12:20] had answered, those eight dogs, is it I
still don't hear an answer that we're
[1:12:26] going to be able to get those eight dogs
back.
[1:12:28] » Yeah. Reasonably, you know.
>> Hey, hey, I have an answer. I have an
[1:12:31] answer. You guys know that at this point
it's an agency transfer. The agency
[1:12:34] transfer means we're now at the whim of
Thomas.
[1:12:37] » We're going to make contact and um
>> I've already talked to Thomas. I called
[1:12:41] him on the other line because I'm
calling in. So I called him on another
[1:12:44] line and he is willing to have
documentation and do what if like if we
[1:12:49] can he first of all he is willing for it
to be a temporary thing and in you know
[1:12:54] two weeks if construction is done and we
can house them again they can return.
[1:12:58] Also, if in those two weeks y'all can
rescue them out, like he's perfectly
[1:13:02] fine with that. However, if if y'all
want to say, "Hey, work with us to get
[1:13:06] these fostered out." Like, if he has
connections, he's willing to do that,
[1:13:09] too. He literally said he will work with
us in any capacity that we need. He
[1:13:13] literally wants to partner with us and
do whatever is best for the dogs and for
[1:13:17] us.
[1:13:20] » Thank you, Elizabeth. You're awesome.
>> We're missing the point, though, I
[1:13:24] think. And that the issue is that you
already have that support that's here
[1:13:27] that could have dealt with those dogs
had they been given the opportunity. I
[1:13:30] know the number around but
>> it's important because now their money
[1:13:33] is in it and those dogs are there and
Thomasville may be fantastic. By the
[1:13:36] way, they lost their own contract with
their county to do municipal sheltering
[1:13:40] because they weren't doing what they
should have done. But I digress on that.
[1:13:43] At the other side of it, that's another
county. All of us are struggling. Nobody
[1:13:47] has good resources. We're all trying to
get dogs.
[1:13:50] to have them have those dogs. It's not
even fair to them in their defense to
[1:13:54] feed, farmer, manage, deal with those
dogs. And to the dogs, it's not fair to
[1:13:59] sit over there for two weeks not
beingworked either. So, if that's truly
[1:14:03] the case, you need your live release
coordinators who know the dogs, who
[1:14:07] understand what their needs are, who are
our network connections to everybody
[1:14:10] else to talk to Thomasville. That line
of communication is what needs to open
[1:14:15] up. Not Brown who does not know what
he's doing in that aspect, who doesn't
[1:14:18] have any business being in the light
release side of rescue. Let them who've
[1:14:23] done it this entire time, open up that
communication with Thomasville because
[1:14:26] right now what it looks like is it's
Thomasville versus Beos with Brown in
[1:14:30] the middle. And that's not going to be
good for anybody including the dogs or
[1:14:33] either rescue or the other rescues on
the outside. So figure out how to open
[1:14:37] up that communication. Let the girls who
know what they're doing work with the
[1:14:41] other gentlemen figure out what they
want to do with the dogs that they have
[1:14:44] money in
if we're opening communication.
[1:14:50] » That would be my thing. My question is
those eight dogs right now, how do we
[1:14:55] communicate to pull those dogs if we
have a rescue within the two weeks?
[1:14:59] » So those are some details that we're
going to work. Basically, this meeting
[1:15:03] here, this meeting here was just to
inform everyone that there was a mistake
[1:15:09] made.
We're going to own it. I will take it
[1:15:13] all myself. In the future, if this
happens, similar to we have to evacuate
[1:15:19] or do whatever we have to do at the
shelter for whatever reason, the very
[1:15:23] first persons that we're going to be
calling is our partners.
[1:15:26] » Are you changing the evacuation plan
then? Stop. I don't think
[1:15:30] » No, no, that's not No. The evacuation
plan specifically says what I'm saying.
[1:15:37] » Now, we're going to have priority.
>> Well, the reason I'm asking is because
[1:15:41] we never saw what the evacuation plan is
made.
[1:15:45] » Um, but I know that I know what we did
for evacuation prior to that. I mean, I
[1:15:50] know we were out there literally the day
of Colleen because
[1:15:54] » No, and I'm not taking out. I'm not
taking anything from
[1:15:57] » I'm just saying we were never made that
was never made transparent and that's
[1:16:00] been recent. VHOS
is priority on moving any dogs that we
[1:16:09] have in the city of Hazer shelter and if
they cannot handle for whatever reason
[1:16:14] meaning you're going to work your
networks and whatever else the
[1:16:16] surrounding area and let's just say they
can't do anything with your connections
[1:16:21] then you get back with the city and say
hey we can't do it we have a partner in
[1:16:26] Thomasville we're going to see what they
can take and that's what's going to
[1:16:29] happen from now on That is the
procedure.
[1:16:34] » We're going to have that in writing
somewhere.
[1:16:35] » Oh, yeah. It's going to Oh, yeah. It's
going to be in writing and it will be a
[1:16:38] policy.
>> When will it be voted on?
[1:16:43] » When will it be voted on?
>> The evacuation plan has already been put
[1:16:47] together. It's just the verbs needs to
be cleaned up.
[1:16:50] » So, when will it be voted?
>> If
[1:16:54] we can,
>> we have we have one in place. It's just
[1:16:58] which is a plan of action that we have.
It just the verbage needs to be cleaned
[1:17:02] up and vetted by our attorneys and then
it will be published.
[1:17:06] » Will this be excuse me for interrupting
because I have to remind you all of
[1:17:10] certain things.
>> Will [clears throat] it be an ordinance?
[1:17:14] » Mhm.
>> Because if it's an ordinance,
[1:17:18] » we have to have two readings and
>> um a referendum. That's what we're going
[1:17:23] to do.
>> Refer referendum goes for a vote.
[1:17:28] Resolution
can be voted on in a regular council
[1:17:32] meeting. If it's an ordinance, you have
to have two readings. One one month, one
[1:17:38] the next month. In a regular council
meeting, not in a special call meeting,
[1:17:42] not in a work session. side.
>> But you're doing this for the
[1:17:47] requirement of the department of a
correct because the department of bag
[1:17:52] what we're talking about now
>> the evacuation plan it has to be noted
[1:17:55] for the department of bag.
>> That is correct. However, we're adding
[1:17:58] in specific verbiage so this doesn't
happen again.
[1:18:05] » And you think that requires both?
>> We're going to talk to our we going to
[1:18:10] talk to our attorneys to make sure that
we do what we're supposed to do.
[1:18:13] » Yeah. We should have that to begin with.
It would have not been under what we're
[1:18:19] supposed to.
>> Miss May, if I may say, I and I had this
[1:18:22] to happen today.
I've only been the city clerk 10 years.
[1:18:27] So, someone was here in my spot for 50
years.
[1:18:31] I literally had to go back to 97 to look
for procedures
[1:18:38] that were voted on and approved in n
actually it was the gentleman was hired
[1:18:44] in 97 that were voted on in 2000 that I
had to send for an open records request
[1:18:52] and it was only in the minutes of the
city of Hurst.
[1:18:58] So, those are the struggles that I as
city clerk have to deal with in looking
[1:19:05] for things. And I don't know, and Mary
Katherine may be able to help with this
[1:19:12] since she's been there 14 years. I don't
even know that there was any written
[1:19:18] things in the minutes when soaps came
in. So,
[1:19:23] that's the way it worked before. And
we're Before I leave, I'm going on 70
[1:19:30] years old. I'm going on 70 years old.
Before I leave, I hope a few things are
[1:19:34] in place that never have been in place.
[1:19:40] » I try. That's all I can do.
>> What about the dogs that are left?
[1:19:47] » Well, if we let Dwayne in the meeting, I
will be taking the six dogs to the
[1:19:51] rescue pulling.
There are six dogs in the shelter that
[1:19:56] were allowed to be released to be house
rescue partners.
[1:20:01] We end this meeting and I can go get
them and take them where they need to be
[1:20:05] tonight. Um so um we will continue to
hopefully have good discussions. You all
[1:20:11] have my phone number because give it out
to the public so you have it. Um so
[1:20:15] let's have some conversations. Let's be
transparent to not only the behior
[1:20:19] citizens in this community. Um, and
let's make better choices and changes
[1:20:23] moving forward.
>> Wait, wait a minute. Now, you say you
[1:20:28] going to take them yourself?
>> I transport 99.9% of the dogs at least.
[1:20:33] » She works right there. She likes road
trips.
[1:20:36] » I have 95,000 miles on that.
>> She personally transport them to where
[1:20:41] they need to go
>> just for breakfast.
[1:20:43] » All over the place. I mean, but thank
you. That's okay. Okay. I'm
[1:20:52] » That's [snorts] fine. That's fine.
And did I understand that the other
[1:20:56] eight that are in Thomasville now
you or what someone from this council is
[1:21:03] going to
ensure work to ensure that they will be
[1:21:08] transferred back here or that they can
be pulled over there during the two week
[1:21:13] or four-week interim by a licensed
rescue.
[1:21:16] » Yes, ma'am. Yeah.
>> No, we're gonna I'm gonna
[1:21:20] » I'm gonna work on this as soon as this
is over with.
[1:21:23] » We're going to get with one of our
partners and ensure that this moves
[1:21:27] smoothly.
>> Are we good?
[1:21:31] » We're going to relay this to everybody
that sits at the table up there. Yes.
[1:21:36] » Yes.
>> But remember, before you get crucified
[1:21:38] though, he really doesn't have the
ability to do that. You guys know that
[1:21:40] the ownership belongs to Thomasville.
Now, I hope that it works, but I'm just
[1:21:44] saying don't crucify him if he's trying.
And I just
[1:21:47] » they don't give up on
>> I just meant the transparency of
[1:21:50] speaking with you know your volunteers.
>> Yes.
[1:21:53] » To try to help you guys.
>> Yes.
[1:21:55] » That's what we're going to do.
>> Okay.
[1:21:56] » We're going to get better at it.
>> Another thing like in the future.
[1:22:00] » But can you stop? We encourage you and
who's
[1:22:04] just
[1:22:08] I have a rescue rescue also frost rescue
and um I volunteer
[1:22:16] How many years?
>> More than me.
[1:22:19] Yes, she husb.
[1:22:36] But anyways, in case something happens
in the future, again like this,
[1:22:41] » um I know officer Brown say, but you
know, he he was sitting there saying,
[1:22:46] "Yes, we have a contract with him."
Well, in reality, no, he didn't have a
[1:22:51] contract.
>> What you're talking about in the future?
[1:22:53] » In the future, have a contract
so that whenever they leave
[1:23:00] » or statement of understanding or
something of that nature,
[1:23:03] » they're going to be coming back.
>> Yes, ma'am. And I do want to say because
[1:23:07] I did volunteer for years.
There have been things through the year.
[1:23:12] This is before y'all. There have been
things through the years. Always break
[1:23:17] up the shelter. It's always put on the
back burner. I I don't know if any of
[1:23:22] y'all have ever went out there and tried
to clean out a drain
[1:23:27] with you know what all in it. But I've
been there, done that. No pay, no
[1:23:32] nothing. walked them,
stayed out there with them for hours
[1:23:37] cleaning.
But it
[1:23:43] you put your heart and soul in to do
with this.
[1:23:48] And
these animals deserve better than the
[1:23:52] chance they got. And that's what we're
trying to give them is a better second
[1:23:56] chance. And we put our heart and soul
into them. and we just we want them
[1:24:02] taken care of and we will, you know, we
will still sit there and fix where
[1:24:07] they've tried to bust out so that y'all
don't have to. We piece things back
[1:24:11] together, you know, but we just
definitely want transparency from the
[1:24:15] future in how things are going because
we we put our heart and soul into this.
[1:24:22] » Yes, ma'am.
>> We definitely appreciate it.
[1:24:27] » All right.
Without further ado,
[1:24:33] Mr. Johnson, do you have a
motion?
[1:24:36] » Oh, that's right. I'm glad glad y'all
came
[1:24:40] y'all. We have to have a open line and
um communication is the key.
[1:24:48] » Amen.
>> Hey, y'all know today's Mr. Johnson's
[1:24:51] birthday, too.
>> He's 76. [applause]