Morrison County commissioners table request for Sourcewell grant support for humane-society cat program
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Summary
After a roughly hour-long discussion about animal welfare, wildlife impacts and program effectiveness, the Morrison County Board of Commissioners voted to table a Humane Society request to include a Sourcewell grant application in the county’s packet and invited the Humane Society to present to the full board at its Nov. 4 meeting.
The Morrison County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 21 tabled for further discussion a request by the local Humane Society to have county support included in a Sourcewell grant application to neuter, ear-tag and release feral cats.
Commissioner Casper led the discussion, saying the Humane Society sought Sourcewell funding for a $75,000 program to trap, neuter and ear-tag free-roaming cats. Casper said he understood the population-control intent but raised concerns about catch-and-release effectiveness and impacts on local wildlife, noting he had spoken with the DNR and a game warden who cautioned that some collared or free-roaming cats range miles from their homes.
Commissioner Winter asked whether the goal of pulling the item was to reject the request or to postpone it for more information; Casper said his preference was to take a vote if the board was ready but also recognized the need for additional discussion.
Commissioner Moran emphasized scale and animal-welfare outcomes, saying euthanasia and disease risks were part of the local problem and that other options should be explored. The chair noted the application packet deadline was Nov. 5 and proposed giving Commissioner Lemire (absent) an opportunity to weigh in.
County staff told the board the Sourcewell application required local municipal support in the packet but was not a request for county funds — the grant is outside funding and would not obligate Morrison County taxpayer dollars. Staff also said the board had another meeting on Nov. 4, which would still permit the county to include a resolution in the application if the board chose to act then.
After discussion, the board voted to table item 4.7 and asked county administration to invite the Humane Society to the Nov. 4 meeting for a fuller presentation. The motion to table was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board did not vote on the grant itself; it instead postponed action to allow the full board to consider the Humane Society presentation and timing relative to the Nov. 5 packet deadline.
