DeWitt County needs a new animal shelter administrator.
At a special meeting of the DeWitt County Board's public safety committee Monday night, an employee aired several issues happening at the animal shelter.
Sage Lash is an animal control officer at the animal shelter and alleges there are several issues not only with the facility but the way the County operates the shelter. She says public safety committee chairperson Megan Myers' "micromanagement" of the facility is not needed.
John Werts told Lash - who also outlined the training required of employees in shelters across the country - it saddens him to hear the lack of attention the animals are receiving because of the shelter being understaffed.
Lash has been outspoken about the issue on social media the last week and Werts told her blasting the issue on social media isn't the way to handle the situation.
Steven Runyan spoke before the committee and offered some scathing comments about the committee and County's commitment to the animal shelter.
Runyan continued to defend Lash and exiting administrator Holly Gehlbach and adamantly insisted the board do better. Werts says the County is in a unique position because the non-profit group Second Chance for Pets works with the shelter to find homes for pets that are fit to be re-homed.
Kristina Deerwester is a volunteer for Second Chance for Pets and a County Board member. She says Second Chance was asked to step back from its involvement at the animal shelter and did so.
The Board met Monday to discuss the future of the animal control administrator. DeWitt County Board Chair Dan Matthews was in attendance and believes the position needs to be revised as it is too much for one person.
Myers says the County needs to advertise the position more broadly and if they are going to do it right it is going to require the appropriate staffing at the shelter.
Melonie Tilley proposed closing the facility or cease taking in animals until they can get someone hired but that was met with opposition because there are already animals in the shelter and a small handful that are problematic.
As for the pet adoption group, Second Chance for Pets, Werts says communication between all the parties needs to improve because Lash says they would also come in with expectations and opinions on how things should be done.
Lash indicates the County needs to consider coverage at the shelter for the weekends. She explains they get several calls throughout the weekend and administrators in the past would not go out on those calls.
Gelbach's final day as the shelter administrator is next week. Lash encouraged the Board to close the facility and make it 'by appointment only'.
The County decided Monday night to move forward with revising the job description for the animal shelter.
