08-08-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011 at SBACC is able to provide he believes that it warrants the new facility that they believe makes sense economically as well as providing service to residents and animals in our community. Councilmember Oliver Davis thanked everyone for being here tonight. He thanked everyone at SBACC when his daughter was bit last year. He stated that using TIF monies makes sense and those monies can only be spent on certain projects. He stated that these are not general fund monies. Councilmember Oliver Davis advised that they have already approved this project and recognize that sometimes things have to be changed and those changes came about with the recommendations from the Energy Director in making this facility more efficient. He stated that he would be supporting this Resolution tonight. Councilmember Varner stated that when this project was first brought to the Council he actually voted for this project. He stated that because at that time the two facilities for animal care and control were abysmal facilities. However, since then the St. Joseph County Humane Society has built a new facility, a wonderful facility. He stated that he wishes that they could have had discussions without all the venom, hostility and resentment. Because no matter how people think they handle their business, they do a wonderful job, they work hard and they raise money. He stated that this should have never been about the organizations themselves, it should have been about the discussion. Now we have a new facility in St. Joseph County, ready to expand, a wonderful facility, it doesn’t matte whether it’s in South Bend or Mishawka, they in fact are a County facility. He stated that in regard to the e-mail’s that Ms. Toppel made reference to, there were far more from Calgary, Canada and Australia than from South Bend and anyone who looked at them couldn’t deny that they were chain letters, not to take away the fact that people actually took the time to respond. Councilmember Varner stated that as far as the Crowe Horwath report is concerned it is summed up in the third paragraph “In the course of preparing this Analysis, we have not conducted an audit of any financial or supplemental data used in the accompanying Exhibits and Schedules. We have made certain projections that may vary from actual results because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as estimated and such variances may be material. We have no responsibility to update this Analysis for events and circumstances occurring after the date of this Analysis.” He stated that what is missing from the administrations presentations is the approximate $100,000 of capital costs, which is a $2 million dollar facility over 40 years plus the maintenance for that facility. He stated that if we honestly think that we can continue to do business as we have in the past, we are going to have two very expensive facilities doing the exact same thing just doesn’t make sense. He stated that if we are truly all about taking care of the animals it shouldn’t matter where and it is not a contest of who is better. He stated that he would have felt better about this if the city would have accepted the proposal from the Human Society over a year and half ago to negotiate and the city let it ride. He stated that there is a better way to do this and cannot support this bill tonight. He stated that he wishes everyone would put their differences aside and consider the welfare of the animals. This is not the way, there is another way. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he understands both sides and has some concerns. He stated that his concern is not having any say so on a board or commission that receives money from the City of South Bend. Councilmember Kirsits thanked everyone for all the e-mails, he stated that he received an e-mail from New Dehli. He stated that he believes in consolidation of city services and what has gone on in Marion County with their police and fire departments. He stated that some times consolidation doesn’t always work depending on location. He stated that the County and City Building Departments consolidated and that has worked well. Mishawaka did not want to play together, so they have their own building department. He also stated that when South Bend Fire offered their services to the entire county, Mishawka once again did not want to get involved and continues to maintain their own EMS. He stated that he has some concerns for the Animal Control Officers and for their welfare when they are out on a call to pick up an animal. They need to be trained in enforcement and to be better protected when they are on those calls to owners who are 29