Residents and volunteers press Clermont County on animal shelter management as RFP proceeds

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Clermont County Board of Commissioners’ Jan. 22 meeting to press officials for changes at the county animal shelter and more volunteer access.

Andrew Stober of Amelia told the board he has not received a response from the commissioners’ office about ongoing property and safety concerns involving a neighbor’s visitor and said the sheriff’s office has not been responsive. "I would be the squeaky wheel until this is resolved," he said. Several other speakers, including Megan Dashley of Milford and Roger Vogel of Pierce Township, urged changes to reduce euthanasia and to expand behavioral services and volunteer roles.

Deanna Smith of Cincinnati said a shelter employee had resigned and expressed frustration that day-to-day operations need more direct management, while Jody Wilson of Williamsburg criticized the shelter Request for Proposals (RFP) as insufficient. "Ms. Livesay has done a great job administratively but needs someone to run the animal shelter," Smith said.

County Administrator Thomas J. Eigel told the board the county is "currently in the RFP process, so any questions need to go through the process outlined in the request document. The proposal is for the shelter's management." Commissioners Painter and Batchler said they had contacted the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office and Township Trustees on at least one constituent complaint.

Why this matters: Public commenters described both animal-welfare concerns and gaps in volunteer access and day-to-day leadership; the board indicated the matter is being handled through the formal procurement process rather than by ad hoc direction.

The board took no immediate operational action at the meeting and left next steps tied to the RFP and procurement timeline.