Commission to vote on dissolving animal care committee
The Anderson County Commission will vote on whether to dissolve its Animal Care Advisory Committee during its next meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, in Room 312 of the courthouse in Clinton.
The Operations Committee unanimously voted to bring the issue to the full commission.
Presentations will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a regular meeting at 9:30 a.m., and a joint meeting with the Planning Commission at 11 a.m.
Commissioner Phil Yager made the motion to bring the measure to the full commission, with Commissioner Michael Foster seconding. The decision followed comments from Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, who expressed frustration with the committee. She said one member, whom she did not name, had been too hostile for the committee to effectively advise her on animal control and shelter matters.
“If the goal is not truly to work with me, it’s not a partnership,” Frank said, adding that she would like more input into who serves on the board.
However, Steven Verran, the current chairman of the Animal Care Advisory Committee, had other concerns. He said attendance issues had plagued the committee, noting that it hadn’t achieved a quorum since March.
“We don’t really have a committee,” Verran said. “We need a new group of members.”
Commissioner Tracy Wandell, a member and former chairman of the committee, also expressed dissatisfaction but raised concerns about the county’s ability to handle a planned larger animal shelter without the committee’s assistance.
He said he had previously suggested creating a board with half of its members appointed by the mayor, but the idea failed to pass.
“I’m going to sit back and listen and hear how we’re going to take care of the animals,” Wandell said.
Commissioner Robert McKamey proposed replacing the committee with a task force that would include Verran, Wandell, and himself.
In response, Frank suggested that law enforcement could play a larger role in the future task force.