Fayette commissioners continue to disregard public input on botched animal shelter

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. The commissioners have fooled themselves once into believing that this new animal shelter was just fine, thank you very much. OK, not so fine but good enough. It should get us through the next 10-15 years. And perhaps no one will notice that we overspent and underachieved.

Fool me twice. Yes, they have fooled themselves twice into thinking that those who care about the animals would just calm down and stop fussing. After all, the Fayette Commissioners did make some changes and perhaps they could just persuade Tami Hurst, Gail Drouillard and Robin Allgood, Community Task Force leaders, to settle down.

Shame on them!

More than 100 people attended the meeting on June 13. Every seat was taken in the public meeting room in the Fayetteville and people lined the back of the room. Most of the attendees wore red shirts-indicating that they came to speak for the voiceless cats and dogs. The working meeting was short and then came comments from speakers.

The councilmen sat like kings on their thrones. They scolded the audience in advance that the community was not to be unruly, loud or make negative comments regarding staff. The community was also directed by Chairman Lee Hearns to be “mild in your applause.” What had they expected?? A riot?

They called each visitor by their first name and thanked them after five minutes but did not respond even when directly asked a question.

An unexpected and powerful speaker, Bobby Rashad Jones, took up the cause. He spoke eloquently about three pillars of power: authority, responsibility and accountability. He thought the commission had plenty of authority but where was the responsibility to make this right and the accountability of our tax dollars?

He stated that he grew up in Fayetteville, loved this town and “this is not who we are.” Mr. Jones is running for Fayette Commissioner Seat #2. Three are up for reelection this November: Charles Oddo, Eric Maxwell and Lee Hearn. Bobby Jones is running for Lee Hearn’s position. Bobby Jones is a family man, child advocate and a retired commanding naval officer with extensive military leadership positions. He received his masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

The many animal shelter speakers spoke with passion, knowledge, intelligence, reason and many held out an olive branch to the commissioners.

This was Cindy Coe’s second meeting and she came prepared. She brought with her handouts of how to add comfortable and affordable kennels to the shelter since the number of shelter kennels have been greatly reduced. This reduction was the due to combining some kennels to increase the size to render them proper for large dogs which is virtually the entire population in need. She asked the councilmen to “own this problem and let us help you.”

Robin Allgood spoke of a tiny holding pen to quarantine new dogs. She didn’t question the need to discern if an animal is ill but she found lots of fault with the process of using too small a pen for several days of solitary confinement. The new animal never leaves a very tiny pen not to eat not to defecate. This needs to end right now. She considered this animal abuse.

On the website for the Fayette County Commission it states, ”Fayette is committed to operating an open and transparent government.” Gail Drouillard, Fayette resident, requested a full accounting of the $3.25 million spent on the shelter. Another resident stated that they didn’t mind paying their taxes but didn’t want the money wasted.

Tami Hurst, who chairs the task force, invited the county commissioners to form a steering committee comprised of community leaders and county representatives to make the building more habitable and better managed. She handed in a letter stating such.

Robin Allgood spoke to a cooperative approach with the county as well. “We want to help. We want what is best for the dogs and cats. Please accept our help.“

Here was an occasion for the commissioners to remember that they are elected public servants … not to reign supreme but to support and work with and for the community. This was a great opportunity for those seeking reelection to show their leadership and responsiveness to the community. There was silence.

At the end of the meeting, Chairperson Hearn called a short recess. If he would have explained that he was planning to respond to the animal shelter comments, people would have stayed. Most residents left. When he returned, he stated that many of the issues have now been resolved and that Ms. Drouillard would have her answers shortly. They, the commissioners, would continue to work with the community and make improvements.

According to Tami, who heads the task force, the ameliorations are nonsensical and mismanaged. For example, the task force requested that the county provide a white painted area over the large black asphalt that the dogs need to cross to get to a grassy area. The asphalt gets quite hot and a wide white line would be an easy solution. The county agreed and but instead bought astro turf to make a pathway. Nobody even thought to check if this were appropriate. Plastic laid on top of asphalt becomes extremely hot. thereby compounding the problem, not solving it.

The task force offered to donate 2 large “cat hotels.” Tami was told no need to donate them we will purchase them for the shelter. Photos and model numbers were given to Steve Rapson, county administrator. What was procured were two tiny cat hotels.

When Tami went to view them recently, according to Ms. Hurst, they had not yet been used. She is baffled as to why the councilmen will not work seamlessly and cooperatively with the community.

Another puzzle is the proposed barn that has been approved by SPLOST money to shelter lost and runaway pigs, goats, chickens and horses. This and walking/exercise paths behind the shelter are budgeted for $750,000. Is this barn even necessary in Fayette County? When was the last time you even saw a runaway pig?

Vicki Leopold

Fayetteville, Ga.