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Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter concerning events occurring in Hancock County. I am trying to understand what is happening between the Hancock County Animal Shelter Foundation and the Hancock County commissioners.
An article in The Review, dated June 9, 2016, by reporter Stephen Huba, explained the proposed contract. Written by the Commissioners’ attorney, Michael Lucas III, the contract differed from the previous contracts in recent years, including the citing of a section of West Virginia code involving euthanasia.
I called the commissioners office several times and received no answer. I finally did talk with a woman who took my name and number and said the commissioners would try to return my call. She said they were receiving a large volume of calls on this matter. I was also told to call back if I did not receive a call. I did not receive a call but did not call again after talking with my neighbor who spoke directly with a commissioner. She was told “you can’t always believe what you read in the newspaper.”
I attended the June 23 meeting of the commissioners expecting to hear a vote on the new contract. It was stated there were no bids on the shelter, but I heard nothing about voting on the new contract. The commissioners were extremely upset at the end of the meeting. They each talked about their feelings for animals and how offended they were the citizens were criticizing their actions. TV9News came in at the conclusion of the meeting. I wondered why so late. Later that night, I saw Commissioner Swartzmiller on the news. The interview was after the meeting, when the citizens had left the room.
Tom Goff, president of the Foundation, asked for an extension of the bid to refine the contract. He did not get an extension. This is in itself little consideration for 25 years of service to the community.
I have spoken with the board of the Hancock County Animal Shelter Foundation, listened to an interview with Mr. Swartzmiller on TV9, attended the commissioners meeting and listened to Mr. Davis and Mr. Barnabei, and spoken with Mr. Huba at The Review and still have no idea what is truly happening.
Refusing to work with a Foundation that has been successful for 25 years (a low kill shelter with only 5 percent of the animals euthanized last year), refusing to extend the bid so an agreeable contract can be written, refusing to give the citizens of the county the true reason for these actions and then admonishing attendees at the meeting for others actions is unconscionable.
I feel the new levy for the Shelter was passed under false pretenses. It seems like a “Bait and Switch” tactic. I would like straight answers for the taxpayers of this county!
Linda Keuper Springer
Chester