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Residents urge continued TNR funding as Pacific group reports rising kitten season workload
Summary
Speakers during public participation described the city’s trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) program workload and budget needs: volunteers reported nearly 500 animals handled since 2023 and asked the board to keep a $1,500 budget line and consider buying pallets of food for colonies.
During the public participation segment of the May 20 Board of Aldermen meeting, two residents delivered updates and requests concerning the city’s trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) program.
Jeanne Bannerman, who identified her address as 111 Freeman Street, told the board the volunteer effort has been active and that the group has installed downtown banners and completed fundraising and procurement work. She reported the group’s financials for 2023–2025: total expenses “right around pretty close to $28,000” and revenue “right around $27,000,” leaving the program slightly underfunded; she asked that the board keep the $1,500 line in next year’s city budget and said the group hoped to buy pallets of food to supply colonies.
Bannerman provided intake and service counts: roughly 104 cats handled in 2023; 279 in 2024; and about 116 so far in 2025. She said the share of kittens has increased, from roughly 50% of intakes historically to about 58% in 2024 and about 68% so far in 2025. Bannerman estimated at least three colonies with 20–25 cats each that have proven difficult to partner with and said volunteers continue to prioritize nursing and veterinary care.
Kathy Crowell, identifying her address as 2761 Tiny Ridge Way, spoke in support of the TNR program and said she cares for a colony by the city park; she thanked volunteer coordinator Gina Brandon and urged the board not to end the program.
City Clerk Barfield and other staff said the Franklin County Humane Society line in the city budget includes animals surrendered from city limits and that staff can provide a breakdown of payments to Franklin County on request. The board did not take formal action on the program at the meeting; residents asked only that funding remain in the proposed budget and asked for staff to supply the requested financial breakdown.
Speakers asked for more regular sharing of the program’s monthly activity reports to board members; Bannerman said she had been submitting reports to the clerk and offered to supply any missing months.
