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Fergus Falls approves $25,000 contribution to Humane Society capital campaign; council debates larger loan option
Summary
Council voted to give a one-time $25,000 contribution to the Humane Society of Otter Tail County’s capital campaign; members discussed the organization’s previously reported $200,000 shortfall, the city’s ongoing $12,000 annual operating contribution, and a proposal to use the BDFF fund for a larger low-interest loan, which the Humane Society said it did not want.
The Committee of the Whole voted to approve a one-time $25,000 contribution from unspent 2025 economic development funds to the Humane Society of Otter Tail County’s capital campaign.
Mayor Hicks recounted the Humane Society’s prior presentation on a facility remodel and a previously cited shortfall (described in the record as about $200,000). Councilmember Woodson proposed that the city consider a larger gap-funding solution using the BDFF fund — suggesting a low-interest loan to bridge the capital shortfall rather than a small one-time donation. "Why do we not step in and help them even with something as low as a 0 to 1% rate...we will gap fund this," Woodson said.
Mayor Hicks reported that, after speaking with the Humane Society, the organization said it had short-term funding options and was not interested in a loan; councilmembers therefore moved forward with the $25,000 donation. City staff stated the city’s current annual operating contribution is $12,000 (paid in quarterly $3,000 increments) and that the proposed $25,000 would be a one-time capital contribution; staff and council discussed whether to plan a recurring budget allocation in 2026.
The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript. Councilmembers agreed to include longer-term funding considerations in next year’s budget deliberations.
