Trending
Representatives of the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley in Marietta gave Washington County Commissioners an update Thursday.
After the commission adjourned its regular meeting Thursday, they met with the HSOV Executive Director Amy Rogers, HSOV volunteer Tracey Moore and HSOV board member and Washington County Treasurer Tammy Bates.
Commissioner James Booth asked about the status of the contract between HSOV and Washington County. According to Booth, the county contracts with HSOV to fulfill its obligation for stray dogs that is listed in the Ohio Revised Code.
HSOV also holds evidence animals for the county. If the sheriff's office goes into a home for a case and the home has animals, HSOV houses the animals for the Sheriff's Department, Booth said.
These are the kinds of things that are listed in the contract, he said.
Rogers gave an update on the contract's status.
"Our attorney had it, sent it back to us with some changes, so the board's discussing those," she said.
Commissioner Charlie Schilling said the contract is pretty much in Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil's hands, with her working back and forth with HSOV's attorney.
Coil is the attorney for the commissioners and elected officials. She looks over anything they need to sign, like a contract. She looks at it to make sure it aligns with the wishes of the county and makes sure there are no clauses that can catch up the county, Booth said of her role in approving the contract.
Schilling said that the commission is getting some evaluations of the contract from Coil and they are not at a point to approve anything yet.
Bates is interested in the contract being approved quickly.
"The quicker we can speed this process along, I think it's just best for the lawyers to handle it, keep us out of it, but they know what (is needed)," Bates said. "We went a whole year last year without a contract. We're already a month into another year (without a contract). I just feel better as a board member having a contract. I know y'all feel better as the commissioner's office having a contract so everybody's interests are black and white. That's why I really don't want this to drag out for another two or three months."
Booth said they have been waiting on a contract for 14 months.
Bates suggested Coil and HSOV's lawyer could talk to each other and time-wise it would be very beneficial.
After the contract discussion, Booth asked whether HSOV will be hiring a new humane officer. Their last one started working for the Washington County Sheriff's Office, he said. HSOV is not going to fill the position for right now due to financial reasons and because any member of their staff can go out and help if needed, Rogers said.
After the discussion about the humane officer, Moore said HSOV has received calls from people who have so many stray cats where they live that they were trying to call Save A Kitty Feral Cat Program Inc. to get the cats spayed or neutered.
There are no vets for Save A Kitty to work with for at least three months out, Moore said.
At the end of the meeting Bates mentioned their fundraiser, the Fur Ball and that tickets will go on sale soon. Tickets for the Fur Ball go on sale Feb. 1 for $40 for an individual ticket or $375 to reserve a table for eight, according to HSOV's website.
This is HSOV's 19th annual Fur Ball. It will feature food, auctions, and a 505/50 raffle, their website said. The Fur Ball is 7 p.m. March 23 at the Shrine Club, 249 Pennsylvania Ave., Marietta.
According to the website, there will also be a raffle for a fully loaded 2023 Nissan Rogue at the Fur Ball. The raffle is sponsored by 339 Auto Sales. The taxes and title are paid for the vehicle. Raffle tickets are $50. They are available for purchase at HSOV or 339 Auto Sales. Tickets can also be bought online at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/m?oeidk=a07ejz16xiecfacc108&oseq=&c=&ch=
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com