The long awaited release of the audit on the Clinton County Humane Society was released Thursday morning at a jam-packed Clinton County Commissioners room in the Clinton County Courthouse.
The findings by Rea Logan and Co., an independent Certified Public Accounting firm from Peru, found one discrepancy in the report which wasn’t major enough for the Commissioners to pull funding from the Humane Society for animal control in Clinton County. The audit went from October 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018.
“It (the report) is available in the office for anyone who wants to look at it,” said Clinton County Commissioners President Josh Uitts. “Historically, we’ve used the Humane Society and made a donation to them in return for animal control. We’ve had great success with that. However, we’re always open to new ideas and looking at things objectively. We look forward to meeting with some folks and see what we can do.”
Uitts did say he is going to schedule a meeting with JETS Animal Service in the next week or so.
“I’m going to have a meeting next week with Kim Harris and Jim Tate, who have an alternative proposal,” said Uitts.
Currently, JETS Service is contracted with the City of Frankfort for animal control for the remainder of this year and 2019 for its Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program. Harris is the president-to-be of JETS, while Tate is the former director of the Clinton County Humane Society, who was fired earlier this year which led to several departures at the shelter and a major divide in the city and county on the issue.
“There has been a question of care for a very long time,” said Commissioner Steve Woods. “We have trashed some good, honest people over this issue. I will back our volunteers unless they have done something immoral or illegal.”
Commissioner Scott Shoemaker said his home phone is full of messages that he doesn’t plan returning calls to.
“I’m not calling people back,” said Shoemaker. “I’m not going to argue with you people. I’m really upset about this.”
Harris was asked her reaction as to how the Commissioners were going to handle the funds for animal control.
“I’m pretty positive that they (the Commissioners) are open to change,” said Harris. “I think change for this county could be good. .I think that you shouldn’t take all the money that is given ($95,000) and give it to one facility. When you use two or three different agencies for the animal control for the Humane Society for the Trap, Neuter and Release, it’s a little more like people watching people.”
Harris added she is looking forward to meeting with the Commissioners.
“They are willing to meet with another company which is JETS Animal Service about animal control for the county,” said Harris. “I think that will be a great thing because they can watch the Humane Society, the Humane Society can watch them and the money will get more effectively used. Just having more people involved is good for this county.”
Uitts added for the time being the Commissioners will accept claims from the Humane Society on a monthly basis.