MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Commissioners met with representatives from the Knox County Humane Society on Monday morning to discuss its facilities. Peggy Kimple, canine program manager for the humane society, and Marla McCutchen, volunteer for the animal shelter and humane society, were present.
Kimple reported that the Rescue Waggin’ program was taking most of the puppies away from the humane society because “people always want puppies.” However, she said this has led to some older dogs being left behind.
“In the past, we’ve had a few ... adult dogs bumped off [the program] because ... they say ‘we don’t have enough room,’ but they take all the puppies,” said Kimple.
Kimple said she has solved the problem by sending pictures of adult dogs first, then sending pictures of puppies to the program coordinators.
Kimple said she and other members of the humane society, including McCutchen, would be traveling to New York to take part in a new training course.
“They’re changing the testing procedures for dogs,” said Kimple, “[and] we have to go and be trained for that.”
Commissioner Bob Wise asked if Kimple or McCutchen had seen any animals that looked like they had been abused at the facility; both said they had not.
“It seems like things have really improved,” said Wise.
Kimple agreed, but also said she believed “there is a stigma out there” because people are still afraid to take animals to the facility. McCutchen added that since the beginning of the year, the humane society has had some quality volunteers.
Other items discussed were ideas for making animals more visible to increase the likelihood of adoption, and the status of a part-time veterinarian who works for the humane society.
In the afternoon, the commissioners met with Amy Schocken, senior planner for Community Development Consultants, to discuss the Community Home Improvement Program grant application for Knox County. The county is in the process of applying for a $500,000 grant to develop and improve housing. However, the CHIP funds must be targeted in a certain area of the county; the commissioners, along with Schocken, agreed on a portion of the village of Fredericktown.
Shocken said the state likes to see Community Development Block Grant funds used for improvements in a CHIP-targeted area. CDBG funds are determined through a formula; according to Commissioner Allen Stockberger; the formula is typically based on population. In 2008, Knox County will receive $120,000 in Formula CDBG funds; $20,000 of that amount must be used in the CHIP-targeted area in Fredericktown in low- to moderate-income areas or to help improve the area’s handicap accessibility. These criteria must be met in order to receive more points from the state. The more points a grant application has, the more likely it will be accepted.