Supervisors donate heating units to animal shelter

Published 10:21 am Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Lincoln County will donate two heating units from an abandoned facility to help bring the former city pound up to humane standards.

Pete Corkern addressed the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors during its regular meeting Monday morning about materials the Friends of the City Animal Shelter requested from the county. The group has taken responsibility of what was called the city pound.

Lu Becker, an adviser to the board over the facility, asked about the old screenwire plant the county owns that has been more or less neglected and abandoned in a board meeting six weeks ago. Inside the building there are some broken or defective fans and heating units, as well as some other old materials that could possibly be used to make new dog pens. The group made a list of items it could use and gave it to the county to look over.

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“What we’re trying to do out there is trying to get some heat in the building, there’s simply a roof out there. There’s no walls, no heat,” said Corkern at the last board meeting. “The dogs are freezing to death in the wintertime, we need to get the heat out there before winter comes.”

Board members agreed they wanted to donate the heating units, but needed an appraised value of the items before they could be transferred, sold or donated. County-owned items over $1,000 need to be auctioned off per the law, and anything under may be handled without an auction. Corkern mentioned an AC/heating professional who had looked at the fans and the board suggested he assign a value to the heating units. During the meeting, Corkern spoke with the man who valued them at $50 each. With this information, the board moved forward.

Board president Eddie Brown made the motion that the two heating units be given to the Friends of the City Shelter and Supervisor District 1 Rev. Jerry Wilson seconded it, after which it passed.

Becker said the county’s contribution is a start toward a good working relationship, which the group hopes will grow. Becker said the city has been very gracious, but there are needs at the shelter which currently cannot be met. For example, Becker said, the shelter needs 16 doghouses among other items.

“We’re very thankful to the city and the county for their support of this new group of animal lovers who are working to better the environment of abused and unwanted animals in both the city and the county.”

The board may choose to repeat this process with other items requested by the group from the old building.

Judge Michael Taylor asked the board in a statement to reappoint Lesa Baker as the public defender, which the board approved.

The board acknowledged a memo regarding not throwing candy at the Christmas parade this year.

The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Government Complex will be closed on Nov. 26 and 27, Dec. 24 and 25 and Dec. 31 and Jan 1 to observe the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays.

The next meeting for the board of supervisors will be Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.