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Gates County reviews animal shelter staffing, operations and related budget
Summary
Commissioners heard that new shelter director Betty Crumbley is working long hours for low pay, that paperwork and the shelter Facebook page need repair, and that the county’s contracted shelter costs about $115,000 per year; board members discussed staffing, slots for neighboring counties and possible wage increases.
A Gates County commissioner told the board that Betty Crumbley is the new director of the county animal shelter and is working ‘‘about 65 to 70 hours a week’’ while being paid roughly $12 per hour, creating stress for staff and prompting calls for organizational fixes and potential wage increases. The commissioner said paperwork at the shelter was ‘‘disorganized’’ and that the shelter’s Facebook page had been deleted, requiring volunteers or staff to rebuild outreach channels.
The speaker said Gates County currently pays an external animal facility ‘‘I think it’s 115,000 and some odd dollars per year’’ under an allocation formula tied to services; the figure was presented as an approximation. Commissioners also discussed the county’s arrangement with a Tri-County animal shelter and fielded complaints that Gates County’s use of slots could reduce capacity for neighboring Currituck and Camden counties. ‘‘That’s what my question is…are we hindering Currituck and Camden from being able to bring in by taking spots,’’ one commissioner asked during the discussion.
Board members said kennel and roof upgrades previously proposed have not been completed — flooring work was done, but new kennels and a roof replacement have not yet occurred — and that capital needs may be considered again in next year’s budget. The speaker reported a recently certified partner employee who can respond to calls and noted the county is trying to limit overtime and intensive monthly hours for shelter personnel.
The discussion included potential operational responses: stabilizing paperwork and outreach, exploring modest wage increases to retain staff, and reviewing inter-county slot allocations with the Tri-County shelter. No formal motions or votes on funding changes were recorded in the transcript.
