Residents press county on animal-shelter problems; commissioners temporarily lower adoption fees

Public commentators urged the Clermont County Board of Commissioners on March 5 to address perceived miscommunication and operational problems at the county animal shelter, and the board approved a short-term cut in county-imposed adoption fees to ease capacity pressures.

During the public-participation portion of the meeting, several residents and volunteers described long-running disputes over the shelter and urged a collaborative path forward. Julie Tolliver of Bedavia Township said advocates had felt like they had “been banging their head against the wall” but that she hoped to “find a way to build this coalition.” Tracy Hawkins of Union Township, who identified herself as a resource for the shelter, told commissioners, “There is a way to solve this, and the only way forward really is to do it with a collaborative mindset and keeping the best interest of the animals at the forefront.” Jody (Joe) Wilson of Williamsburg Township said he had decades of rescue experience and added, “Im here for the animals.”

After public comment, the commissioners added an agenda item (resolution 020-25) to temporarily lower county-imposed dog adoption fees for animals adopted between March 5 and March 31, 2025 “to help alleviate the unusually high number of dogs being cared for, fed, and housed,” the resolution states and cites the Ohio Revised Code. The board approved the resolution by roll call; Commissioners Bachelor, Corcoran and Painter each voted yes.

County staff and shelter personnel attended the meeting. Angie Livasay, who introduced new kennel staff earlier in the session, was acknowledged by commissioners when the adoption-fee resolution passed. Commissioner Painter thanked shelter staff and volunteers after the vote, saying, “Angie, thanks for all your hard work over there at the animal shelter. We appreciate you and the team and the volunteers.”

The resolution sets the temporary period for March 5March 31, 2025 and applies to dogs described in the resolution as “aged 12 and older.” The transcript contains garbled phrasing about the usual fee level; the text read during the meeting noted the temporary rate and that the fee had been reduced for the specified dates. The record does not contain a clear numeric comparison of the regular fee versus the temporary fee that is free of uncertainty; the board vote record shows the resolution passed.

The action is administrative and temporary; the board did not adopt new shelter operating policy at the meeting. Several public speakers emphasized the desire for improved transparency and collaboration going forward; Hawkins and Tolliver both called for officials to engage community volunteers and animal-welfare groups to implement longer-term changes. Commissioners did not announce a formal timeline at the meeting for additional operational changes or an independent review.

The board cited state law in placing the fee change on the agenda; the resolution itself references the Ohio Revised Code. The county also added a notice of the temporary fee change to the meeting agenda before voting. No formal directive to staff to produce a written operational plan or timeline was recorded during the meeting.

If residents and volunteers seek follow-up, the transcript indicates county staff (shelter leadership and the commissionersoffice) as the likely points of contact for additional meetings and operational updates.