Council OKs funds for humane shelter project

Thursday, June 21, 2018

With funding from the county now in the works, plans can move forward for a new structure at the Putnam County Humane Shelter.

The plan is to build an open-air 129-by-30 foot structure behind the main building.

The new building will give dogs shelter from the weather — be it sun, rain, snow — at times when they have to be outside.

The kennels have to be cleaned daily, which has caused dogs to be out in high heat in recent weeks. Humane Society of Putnam County President Sandy Grimes reported having two dogs overheat recently, including one with a temperature of 109 degrees. Normal body temperatures in dogs range from 99.5 to 102.5, according to the American Kennel Club.

With Putnam County Council approval of $7,500 from the Economic Development Warchest, HSPC is close to its goal of building the $29,619 structure.

The county money helps to satisfy the local match portion of a grant that is partially fund the new structure. HSPC will be paying for the remainder.

Grimes recently told the Putnam County Commissioners, who already approved the expenditure, that the outdoor time also gives the animals a chance to exercise and interact.

The council also granted its approval for a new oxygen cascade system that is used to fill oxygen bottles kept on local fire trucks and Operation Life ambulances.

OL Executive Director E.J. Claflin presented the council with the estimates he had collected for the $4,619.76 project. The expenditures include $1,215 to replace the 20-year-old cascade system, $1,679.76 for 24 new aluminum oxygen cylinders, $425 to permanently mark the aluminum tanks and $1,300 to install two electronic locks so fire departments have 24-hour access to the cascade system at the main OL station in Greencastle.

Claflin emphasized that the current cascade system is nearly 20 years old and was not professionally installed, making even testing its effectiveness impossible. Additionally, the oxygen tanks will be used to replace the out-of-date steel tanks still carried by many of the fire departments.

Concurring with a recommendation from the commissioners, the council approved the expenditure from the Hazardous Waste Fund.

The council approved more than $150,000 in other, expected payments from the hazardous waste fund, including $4,000 to pay for the monitor of the hazardous waste landfill in Russell Township, $2,210 for the testing of wells and $151,320 as the annual bond payment on the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center.

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