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Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like the Manager to look at how our <br />$400,000 is being spent at the APS and he would like a report back on whether it is being spent <br />and appropriated in an efficient manner. <br />Chair Brown would like to see a plan far the County taking over and maybe an <br />interim piece that would be acceptable. <br />NO ACTION TAKEN <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Elliot Cramer made reference to the report from Gwen Harvey a few weeks ago on <br />the interim report on animal services. The report refers to the expertise of the Animal Control <br />and Health Director. He said that clearly it is not Gwen's report; it is Rosemary Summers in <br />every sense of the word. He said that Dr. Summers wrote it with assistance from County staff. <br />He said that the basic assumptions come from John Souls and Laura Walters who are not <br />motivated to assist the County in a takeover. He said that these assumptions are flawed. He <br />believes that the report is inconsistent with the intent of the BOCC on June 17`" to obtain an <br />alternative plan for the County to run the shelter. He said that instead of a plan, there is a new <br />bureaucracy. He said that what is needed is a good shelter administrator, something the <br />County has not had for almost two years. He pointed out an error in the County report <br />regarding the number of kennel workers. He said that Dr. Summers overstates the number of <br />animals coming into the shelter by 63%. The number is known to be 5,165 rather than the <br />8,330 she estimates. John Souls has recommended a single Animal Control Officer reporting <br />24 hours a day on weekends and 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 a.m. during the week. This is 123 hours far <br />one man. There is a substantial overestimate of costs. He provided a budget for doing what <br />APS does now. It will be desirable to do mare as HSUS suggests, but it will cost the County <br />more. He said that County operation at the current level can be achieved for a cost to the <br />County of $155,000, including a motor pool internal transfer of $21,000. An increase in fees <br />would reduce the costs. He believes the County can and should take over the operation of the <br />shelter and should do it soon. <br />Bonnie Norwood made reference to the Neville Tract and that the inter-local <br />agreement states that the property cannot be used for a landfill, but it does not say anything <br />about an animal shelter. She thought the County could save some money by using the Neville <br />Tract to put the shelter. <br />7. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />a. NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Funding <br />The Board considered holding a public hearing and approving a FY 2003/04 Rural <br />Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) fund application for $108,150 and authorizing the Chair <br />to sign the Certified Statement of Participation. <br />Department on Aging Director Jerry Passmore said that this is a continuing <br />application, with an increase in $12,528 over the last year. The additional increase will be used <br />far a rural public transportation component. <br />There were no public comments. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Barry <br />Jacobs to close the public hearing. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />