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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 21, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation Center -Follow Up to Budget Decision <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />10/3/03 Formal Request from Dr. Bobby <br />Schopler <br />10/7/03 E-mail from Laura Walters, APS <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Gwen Harvey, Assistant County <br />Manager, ext 2307 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider moving forward with the release of $20,000 that was placed in reserve <br />in the current budget as a contribution to the Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. <br />BACKGROUND: During its budget work session on June 19, 2003 and as part of continuing <br />discussion regarding grants to outside agencies, the BOCC received updated information about <br />the plans and progress of the new Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Following <br />discussion, the BOCC agreed to set aside funds in the amount of $20,000 to be made available <br />to the Center at some point during the budget year, and to couch the funding commitment in the <br />context of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) report on the overall animal shelter <br />operation. <br />Since the summer, the Center has continued to pursue its priority goal as presented in the <br />original plan - to accept injured, orphaned, and sick native North American wildlife and return <br />more than 35% of them back to their original habitat in healthy condition. Its leadership remains <br />open and optimistic about the Center's ability to peaceably co-exist with and complement future <br />efforts of the Animal Protection Society (APS). <br />Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was given a challenge grant from a private donor who <br />wishes to remain anonymous. The challenge grant requires them to raise at least $50,000 by <br />December 15 in order to receive up to $100,000 for unrestricted use. The Center reports that it <br />has currently raised about $40,000, leaving a balance of $80,000 in order to maximize the <br />opportunity. <br />County staff can determine no administrative reason why the allocation of funds, as set aside <br />back in the summer for the Center, cannot be addressed by the BOCC at this time. The <br />release of the $20,000 is not expected to undermine or limit options or opportunities the BOCC <br />