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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011
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<br />associated with that. He stated that would show a reduction of one (1) employee as he
<br />compared the budget and when you look at salaries and benefits that is approximately
<br />$44,000. He stated that there would be a boarding cost at the Human Society of $36.00
<br />per animal and the current animal load is 4,100 per year so that comes to $148,000 as an
<br />additional expense. Mayor Luecke stated that they believe that because of the
<br />transporting that there will be a number of days per year that they would incur overtime
<br />costs, and estimated to be $12,000 per year and of course there would be a fuel cost to
<br />transport back and forth of approximately $5,000 per year. He stated that what they do
<br />not show on this list is that the current facility does need improvements as well if they are
<br />going to continue to use it. He stated that they believe that it needs approximately
<br />$500,000 in investment which they believe would be phased in over several years. He
<br />stated that they don’t show that as part of the calculation but wanted to point that out as
<br />an expense that could be there long term under this situation. With the proposal to house
<br />at the Human Society the revenues would go to the Human Society as well and would not
<br />get that offset. So net annual operating expenses they believe under this proposal would
<br />be approximately $645,000 per year. He stated that roughly a $190,000 more than their
<br />current projection for operating with a new facility which would net out the cost of the
<br />facility in ten (10) years. He stated that he believes this is a good investment for the
<br />community. He asked the Council for their favorable consideration of this Resolution
<br />and to allow them to move forward with the Redevelopment Commission to allow
<br />additional funding so that they can begin on construction of the new facility. He
<br />reiterated that this Resolution is a policy statement asking for support of both the
<br />operations of Animal Care and Control and for the proposal to build the new facility.
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<br />A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill:
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<br />Kelly Pickell, 1103 Kinyon, South Bend, Indiana
<br />S.J. Szabo, 1355 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />Pam Wesolowski, 1103 32 Street, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Zac Smith, 1536 Cobblestone, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Bill Sikes, 18927 Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Erin Blight, 302 E. Woodside, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Rebecca Kizer, 913 Diamond, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Valerie Schey, 1314 E. Wayne Street, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />Brad Broydon, 740 E. 6 Street, Mishawaka, Indiana
<br />Gary King, 730 N. Hill Street, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill:
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<br />Fred Ferlic, 830 Oakridge, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Wayne Curry, 1050 Burns Avenue, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />In Rebuttal, Mayor Luecke advised that tonight we have seen the partnerships that South
<br />Bend Animal Care and Control has made over the years. He stated that there have been
<br />thousands of hours that volunteers have given to SBACC and to benefit the community
<br />and care for the animals and help get them adopted. Mayor Luecke reiterated that the bill
<br />before the Council tonight is a policy statement that asks for a thumbs up or down in
<br />supporting SBACC and the proposal to build a new facility. He stated that they believe
<br />they have made their case and the numbers from the Crowe Horwath report show that it is
<br />less expensive to build a new facility than to house the animals at the Human Society. He
<br />stated that they do believe in consolidating departments and will look for ways to
<br />continue to grow the partnership with the Human Society. He reiterated that he believes
<br />two (2) facilities makes sense for our community, for the residence, for better service, for
<br />our staff, for better working conditions, for the animals that are housed there and for
<br />fewer animals that would be euthanized there. He stated that sometimes consolidation
<br />doesn’t always make sense. He stated that certainly if we had only one library in St.
<br />Joseph County it would be less expensive to operate but it wouldn’t be as successful to
<br />residents in our community if we had only one hospital or one school system, so to go to
<br />one isn’t always the right answer. He stated that if you look at the services that the staff
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