Robbinsville – Despite plans to appoint a new animal control officer at Tuesday’s meeting, the Graham County Board of Commissioners opted to table the discussions until more negotiations could be hammered out.
Chairman Meggan Smith proposed an idea to name local advocate Brittney Holder as the new animal control officer, on a contractual basis through the Graham County Department of Public Health. In turn, Holder would subcontract duties related to the position to those she deemed fit to carry out the responsibility.
The proposal came in light of animal control officer Harold Millsaps’ sudden resignation Friday.
However, the owner/operator of both B’s Pet Grooming and Graham County Animal Refuge was unable to attend the meeting. Commissioners also bounced around questions regarding exactly how she would serve in the role, leading to the discussion being tabled until at least the Feb. 18 meeting.
Shelter responds
Holder has been vocal about the need for stronger animal control in the county, especially over the last year. She has also fought for stronger support and funding to go toward Marble’s Valley River Humane Society, a shelter that takes in animals from Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. President Don Reynolds first appeared before the board at the Aug. 20 meeting, to request assistance in funding a state-mandated fence project at the shelter.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services visited the location last summer and mandated a $52,850 outdoor fence to be constructed, with Reynolds asking for Graham County to contribute $9,000 toward the cause.
Reynolds told The Graham Star in a Monday email that to date, neither Graham nor Cherokee counties has assisted with the project; Clay County has donated $6,200 toward the fence. During his Aug. 20 appearance, Reynolds told the commissioners that 16% of the shelter’s intake in May 2024 was from Graham; 11% was from Clay and the remaining 72% came from Cherokee.
In his Monday email, Reynolds revealed the following overall numbers for 2024:
* Cherokee County: 998 intakes (70%);
* Graham County: 254 intakes (18%);
* Clay County: 181 intakes (13%).
He added that animals are logged in, with some fostered by volunteers or employees of the facilities.
One of the points of contention between commissioners and the shelter has been funding. Through a public records request, The Star obtained a contract that was signed between the two entities that was signed July 1, 2018 and expired June 30, 2019. For reasons unclear, neither side renewed the deal thereafter – instead operating on more of a “handshake” agreement, with Graham County continuing to fund Valley River Humane Society on the contractual term of $20,000 per year.
The deal continued to roll over until the 2023-24 fiscal year, when an unexplained bump to $50,000 appeared. To date, the county has not provided an answer on the increase, but it did go back down to $20,000 for the current cycle (a 61% cut) – something Reynolds questioned at Sept. 17’s meeting.
He also estimated in September that it would take $153,000 just to handle Graham County’s annual intake alone, but a figure of $220,000 was presented by Smith at Dec. 17’s meeting. Reynolds sent an email to interim county manager Kim Crisp just an hour before the meeting to present the number, while also decreeing that Valley River would cease taking animals from Graham County on Jan. 1 – unless commissioners would agree to a new contract, which included funding of $7,000 a month ($84,000 a year).
When questioned in September, Reynolds estimated that the shelter’s annual operating budget was $1.2 million. Monday’s email to The Star revealed the number to be $1.381 million, with salaries covering 52% of the spread and operating expenses the remaining 48%. Reynolds added that income sources were Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties, as well as the humane society’s thrift store in Cherokee County; adoption fees; and donations.
“We do apply for various grants, but as with donations, these can be difficult to receive as most animal shelters in this country are in the same condition as we are – overcrowded and underfunded,” Reynolds explained. “So, we are applying for very limited grants along with all other shelters.
“Utilizing Valley River Humane Society is the most cost-effective way for the three counties to help solve their stray animal issues, rather than opening their own shelter.”
At an emergency meeting Jan. 9, commissioners formed a seven-person animal control committee to help consult with the board about animal needs in the county.
The shelter had agreed to an extension from its original Jan. 1 deadline until Tuesday – but after the meeting concluded, it was unclear what the status was of continuing to transport animals from Graham County to the Valley River Humane Society.
Other news & notes
* The board unanimously reappointed health advisory board members Bob Wehr and Kelsey Cody;
* Commissioners approved a proclamation to make Jan. 16 “Ronnie Milsap Day” in Graham County. The Robbinsville native was born on that date in 1943;
* Another 5-0 approval was given to Graham County Schools, to use $35,675 of its sales-tax funds toward the rental of football bleachers from Tampa-based Southeastern Seating. This is the same vendor that has supplied home seating for Modeal Walsh (Big Oaks) Stadium since the 2023 season opener.