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Commissioners debate animal shelter capital items and who should mow the grounds
Summary
Commissioners reviewed bond-listed capital items for the county animal shelter — including a riding mower, shed and kennels — and discussed whether mowing should be performed by staff, contracted, or handled by volunteers; board allowed removal of a printer from storage.
Jennings County commissioners spent extended discussion on capital items and routine maintenance for the county animal shelter, including how bond-listed equipment should be used and who is responsible for mowing roughly two acres of property adjacent to the shelter.
Officials reviewed a capital submission that included a $13,000 riding lawn mower, a $10,000 shed, $50,000 for outside dog kennels (partly completed), vehicle and handheld radios, an AC unit, and parking-lot work. Board members said the capital form used in bond planning lists those items but county staff reported some of the listed projects already are complete and that not all bond items appear on the current “bottom” (balance) document the shelter sees.
Shelter leadership said they lack a line item in the operating budget to cover routine lawn maintenance and are concerned about relying on volunteers or expecting three full-time staff members to perform the mowing. “We just don't have time to mow the grass…we need to budget it,” a shelter representative said. Commissioners discussed options including hiring part-time help, contracting mowing services, coordinating with the city, or assigning mowing to employees. One commissioner said the recommendation was for employees to mow; another suggested seeking volunteers or board assistance.
Commissioners also clarified how bond funds may be used. A county official noted that bond capital items must be spent for their stated purpose and cannot be traded for services, though two capital items can be substituted for each other if both are capital projects. The board advised that if the shelter wants contracted mowing paid from county operating funds the shelter should request that during budget discussions with the council.
During the same discussion, a motion was made and approved unanimously to allow staff to remove a printer from the shelter barn and reallocate that item; the board also discussed moving some bond-listed items between fiscal years and the need for clearer documentation of what was approved in prior bond paperwork.
Commissioners asked staff to provide a clearer accounting of the bond bottom, the capital form submissions, and a plan for routine maintenance costs so the board and council can consider whether to fund contracts or reassign existing capital to meet operations needs.
