Published: June 25, 2008 10:58 am      

Budget meeting addresses animal concerns

Animal control problems have been dogging the county, county officials say.

In discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Cooke County Commissioner’s Court, Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Hollowell addressed animal control issues in the area, though no official action was taken.

Hollowell said with the budget tight and basic costs increasing, a registration fee for pets might help offset costs if the county should decide to get into the animal control business (see the June 17 Register). As of now, he said, the Cooke County Sheriff’s department is responsible for everything from rounding up loose cattle (see Thursday’s Register) and responding to stray dogs and cats.

Hollowell said he has begun to research animal laws in Texas, and learned it is a class C misdemeanor to tether a dog and its unlawful to allow a dog known to harm livestock to roam free.

Some impact could be made by enforcing existing laws, he said, “and we could see a reduction in some of our problems.”

But, he said, the Sheriff’s Department is overburdened and assistance would be necessary.

Hollowell added that in years past it was a common practice to “eliminate” a troublesome dog by shooting it, but a more humane option is called for.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Virgil Hess noted a June 19 Register article on the increase in dog bites during summer months — a spike of about 400,000 additional bites as the weather gets warmer.

Hess said it may be due to children who are out of school being in the position to be attacked or bitten.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Al Smith said there are two main problems in his precinct in the southwestern corner of the county — horse starvation and the dumping of dead dogs.

“It’s not a pleasant job,” Smith said of responding to calls of a mysterious black plastic sack on the road and finding a dog carcass inside.

Noah’s Ark representatives spoke during departmental budget hearings, held in the afternoon (see sidebar story). They and County Judge Bill Freeman noted that the shelter is currently full, and often is. The animal shelter euthenizes about 1,300 animals per year, though staff would prefer it to one day become a “no-kill” shelter.

In other business, the Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a change order regarding the construction of the Cooke County Justice Center Road.

A representative from BJ Company Contractors said the company would require additional time to complete the curbed road leading to the Cooke County Justice Center, which is located between County Road 451 and West U.S. Highway 82.

The Commissioners gave the company until Aug. 15 to complete the roadway.

In other business, the Commissioners voted unanimously to table awarding sealed bids for the construction of a new maintenance facility in Precinct 4.

Bids submitted included: Don Kelly of Rhome, $78,515; Structures Inc. of Muenster, $76,515; D&B Construction of Muenster, $46,543; and BJ Company Contractors, $93,254.

No action was taken other than reading the bids.

In other business, the Commissioners unanimously voted to:

• Approve the preliminary budget report and begin departmental budget hearings (see sidebar article).

• Approve a request from the city of Gainesville for delinquent tax waivers for properties acquired through a Sheriff’s deed and donation and a quitclaim deed for properties to be used in the Pecan Creek Rechanneling Project and Gainesville Revitalization Project.

• Accept a new-name agreement from Lone Star Crushed Stone & Sand, Inc., which became North Texas Crushed Stone.

• Authorize a variance of scale for lots 1338 and 1339 located off of Kiowa Drive in Lake Kiowa.

• Request funds from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in the amount of $1,345, from unclaimed property funds (from utility bills) to be used in assisting non-profit agencies in the county.

• Approve two, four-year lease agreements with Xerox for the Cooke County Justice Center.

• Approve a set of non-controversial consent agenda items, including: Accepting the resignation of Kay Spencer from the Cooke County Child Welfare Board; approving an asset forfeiture report from Tony Ward, Precinct 4 Constable; placing two copiers into county surplus; and permitting the city of Callisburg, at their expense, to bore underneath CR 139 about five-tenths of a mile south of the intersection of Thrasher Road and CR 139 for the purpose of making a water line connection.

In other business, the Commissioners discussed actions on the interior restoration of the Cooke County Courthouse.

Hess said a structural engineer from Komatsu Engineering is scheduled to arrive Wednesday morning for a walk-through of the courthouse.

In other business, the Commissioners also acknowledged the receipt of bids for outside auditing services, without taking a vote. Bids included proposals from Schalk and Smith of Gainesville, Tracy B. Tartar of Fort Worth and Pattillo, Brown and Hill of Waco.

At a previous meeting, Auditor Shelly Saunders said the firm must be changed out every few years. Currently, Schalk and Smith is the county’s outside auditor.

In other discussion, Key said there was a string of vandalism incidents in Precinct 2, including damage to equipment in the county barn in Valley View and to David Spaeth’s property. He suggested vandalism be addressed in business at a future meeting.

In proclamations, Freeman honored Jean Hartman, 235th District Court Coordinator, for 20 years service.

The meeting recessed at 10:54 a.m. and resumed at 1 p.m. for departmental budget hearings (see sidebar article).

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net