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Residents press Benzie County over animal shelter operations during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents and stakeholders used public comment to press Benzie County officials about the animal shelter’s staffing, volunteer paperwork and apparent lack of available dogs; no formal board action on the shelter was taken at the April 14 meeting.
At its April 14 meeting, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners heard an extended public-comment period in which several residents and nearby township officials raised questions and concerns about the county animal shelter and related animal-control staffing.
John Ransom of the Conservation District opened public comment with an unrelated zoning-tool update; the sequence then turned to shelter issues. Mae Talsma, a Copemish resident, and Lori Wade of Joyfield Township each spoke about the shelter. Several Benzonia Township residents — Julie Beerwart, Eric Van Dussen, Kirstin Bailigy and Roma Baker — and Annie Browning of the City of Frankfort urged clearer volunteer procedures, questioned why the shelter reportedly had “no dogs” available and discussed animal-control services. Dr. Gwinn Hawtos of Leelanau County addressed the Animal Shelter Advisory Board. Tina Dridwiecki of Almira Township said she would like to volunteer.
Speakers pressed the county for clarity about volunteer intake forms, staffing and how the shelter coordinates with animal-control enforcement. The transcript records repeated requests for a functioning volunteer form and more transparent communication about whether animals are available for adoption or transfer; speakers also referenced social-media posts and job postings for a new animal-control officer discussed earlier in agenda review.
County staff present at the meeting did not record a formal board motion or resolution on shelter policy during the session; the meeting minutes show public comment was closed at 9:31 a.m., and a later, shorter public-comment item at about 12:47 p.m. again included comments on animal shelter and control from Annie Browning.
The board received the public input but did not take immediate formal action on shelter governance or operations in the meeting record. The record shows broader administrative work (agenda review, social media and a job posting) was discussed by commissioners in separate agenda items but no formal directive to staff on shelter changes appears in the transcript.
The board adjourned at 12:49 p.m.
