Klein shelter proposes animal control help
No answers from FEMA regarding flooding disaster
BY GLORIA JENNINGS STAFF WRITER

Angela Wallace of the Richard D. Klein Animal Shelter presented a proposal to the Cherokee County Commissioners Court Monday morning seeking $50,000 to care for stray animals. Cost to the county would equal $66 per day per animal.

The Klein Animal Shelter is a 501c3 non-profit organization funded by donations and housing contracts with surrounding counties. The facility was completed in April 2005 with the support of Cherokee County, City of Jacksonville and numerous donors.

Currently the shelter houses approximately 2,400 animals a year. Of the animals housed at the shelter, 28 percent come from unincorporated areas of the county. Of the animals at the shelter only 22 percent are adoptable at the time of intake and another 32 percent will need further evaluation. Roughly 46 percent of the animals at the shelter are not adoptable.

Since the shelter opened in April 2005, 627 animals have been placed in homes. Animals returned to owners have increased 20 percent and euthanasia for space has decreased almost 83 percent.

In other matters, Ken Hannah, emergency management coordinator, told commissioners that he had not heard from FEMA or the governor's office concerning whether the county will qualify for disaster funds.

"The FEMA team was here and they are working on their reports," Mr. Hannah said.

Moody Glass III, commissioner Precinct 3, said he still has six roads closed due to the recent floods. There are two bridges out. "One is a wooden bridge and I was told it was not fixable. A contractor is working on the other one," he said.

"We have a lot of frustration and stress. Our first priority is to get the road open," he said.

"The only problem I am having now is that the culverts belonging to landowners are too small," Byron Underwood, Precinct 4, said. "This creates a real problem and some landowners may have to buy larger culverts," he said.

In another matter commissioners approved the laying of utility lines in Precincts 2 and 4.

The county will advertise for an airport coordinator to fill a vacancy created by the death of Jimmy Long. Prior to seeking applicants a new job description will be drafted.

Several routine items will no longer be placed on the agenda if there are budgeted departmental expenditures. Out-of-state travel will be considered at commissioners meetings.

A lease agreement between Ross Enterprises and the Cherokee County Health Department of continuation of office space rental in Rusk was approved.

Eddie Lee, Constable Precinct 3, was authorized to use up to $500 for the purchase of gasoline for a county car driven by his reserve deputy.

Commissioners declined to impose a fee on vehicle registrations to fund school crossings in the county.

Monthly reports from the county auditor and constables Precincts 1 and 4 were approved. Linda Beard, tax collector, was authorized to return more than $500 payments to two accounts. Health Unit employees were approved to attend the Adolescent Sexual Health Today conference Aug. 1-2 in Tyler. The county clerk and probate clerk will attend the Texas College of Probate Judges seminar in Houston Sept. 5- 8. Representatives from the district attorney's office will attend the annual criminal and civil update in Corpus Christi Sept. 25-28.

Attending the meeting were Judge Chris Davis; Commissioners Mary Gregg, Kevin Pierce, Glass and Underwood; County Clerk Laverne Lusk and County Auditor L.H. Crockett.