Agrees conditions are bad but defends staff with lack of resources
July 12, 2011 11:32:00 PM
By Nancy Pasternack/Appeal-Democrat
A searing grand jury report on conditions at the Sutter County animal shelter was put to rest Tuesday with a few last qualifying remarks from the Board of Supervisors and the issuance of the county's official response.
The responding document expresses agreement with the lion's share of the grand jury's criticism, but pokes holes at its underlying premise.
It questions the credibility of a former animal control officer whose complaint to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health about conditions at the facility prompted an investigation, and subsequent scrutiny by the grand jury, which issued its report in April.
According to the county's response, authored by Interim Community Services Director Randy Cagle and Supervising Animal Control Officer Cheryl Bohannan, the grand jury failed to substantiate all but one of the former employee's complaints, which were at the heart of the grand jury investigation.
The grand jury, according to the response document, "appears to have been negatively predisposed in their investigation and report of Animal Control services," and its report lacks "positive aspects of the service provided."
Supervisor James Gallagher echoed that sentiment.
"Our staff has done a tremendous job in spite of a lack of resources," he said. "They do more than what's asked of them."
The grand jury's findings, Gallagher said, reflect an idealism that doesn't consider financial realities.
Its message, he said, is, "This is what would be ideal if you had unlimited resources."
Gallagher noted, as does the document, that many of the grand jury's recommendations have since been implemented, and that most other problems will be solved when a new facility is constructed to replace the overcrowded building on Second Street in Yuba City.
A basic plan and tentative agreement to move forward on the new shelter has been reached since the grand jury report's release. Construction is not expected to be completed for 18 months to two years.
Supervisors approved, as part of the official response to grand jury findings, a request to spend up to $35,000 to help make improvements to the existing facility, and to implement plans to make the changes immediately.
"If we'd known it would take this long (to get a new animal shelter under way)," said Supervisor Stan Cleveland, "we would have gone through with these modifications at that time."
Yuba City and Live Oak, the two other entities funding the construction, recently approved their respective shares of the $140,000 repair project for the existing building.
Discussions between Sutter County and Yuba City officials on a new shelter have been contentious "for a number of years," said Supervisor Jim Whiteaker.
Talks began seven years ago about a new facility.
"It's sad that it had to get to this point," said Supervisor Larry Munger. "We should have had this (new shelter) three years ago, but the ball was dropped again, and then the ball was dropped again, and then all of the sudden, it's at a standstill."
Among the grand jury's recommendations was an investigation by Sheriff Paul Parker, which is under way.
Parker issued his own brief response to the report.
"The Sheriff's Office concurs that conditions presented by the grand jury from their findings at the animal control facility are dismal," it reads.
The office must investigate, "not only the question of whether certain acts did or did not occur, but if they did occur, who was responsible ... and was there some type of criminal intent or neglect of duty," it continues.
Read more: http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/grand-108303-jury-report.html#ixzz1SDi264nS
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