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To the Editor,
In 2016, the Hancock County Commission offered a nonprofit that was operating the animal shelter $88,000 from the county's "general account" to continue to operate the shelter for fiscal year 2017. Combined with the $100,000 annual Animal Shelter Excess Levy, the nonprofit would receive a total of $188,000 in taxpayer funds. The nonprofit agreed. However, the commissioners also mandated changes to the shelter operation contract so detrimental to the welfare of the animals, the nonprofit would not sign the modified contract. The result was the commissioners removed the nonprofit and took over operation of the shelter.
July 1 will mark the seventh anniversary of the commissioners operating the shelter. Remember, the commissioners promised to operate the shelter "BETTER" than the nonprofit.
In the past six years, the commissioners spent close to an additional $2,000,000 beyond the annual $188,000 offered to the previous nonprofit. Yes, Commissioner Paul Cowey, Commission President Jeff Davis and Commissioner Eron Chek continue to spend about $400,000 a year more to operate the shelter compared to what they offered the nonprofit in 2016. How do they balance their annual budget spending these additional tax dollars? It is simple. Transfer money from the county "Rainy Day Fund" which is intended to be used for county emergencies or major improvements such as a new courthouse.
Despite the shelter annually collecting 1/3 fewer animals since the county takeover, the animal death rate at the shelter has always been greater than the last year the nonprofit operated the shelter. Simply stated, our county shelter collects 1/3 fewer animals and spends about $400,000 more each year and the commissioners do not think this is an issue worth addressing. Is this leadership?
At a July 2021 Commission meeting, the commissioners voted to file legal action to obtain control of $300,000 in funds that had accumulated in the excess levy account prior to the county shelter take-over. At this meeting, Commissioner Cowey, Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Chek promised to return the money to the taxpayers of Hancock County by not collecting the current Animal Shelter Levy assessments for the next three tax years. They won the legal case and received the money. I am not aware of any reduction in the current Animal Shelter Excess Levy assessments. Are you?
Will the commissioners honor their promise or just hope everyone forgets what they said? How much longer can the commissioners continue to support $600,000 Animal Shelter budgets by draining the county's Rainy Day Fund? The piggy bank is almost empty!
Not honoring your promise to the residents of Hancock County is not an acceptable solution to your financial problems. It shows a lack of leadership and further supports why residents do not trust the current commissioners.
Rudy Rosnick
Weirton