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Dear Editor:
Many residents of Hancock County believe the Commissioners offered the Foundation a new contract they knew they would sign to be able to gain access to over $300,000 in the Animal Shelter Excess Levy account.
When the Foundation no longer had a contract to operate the shelter, the Commission directed the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to ask the State Attorney General for a legal opinion regarding ownership of the Animal Shelter Excess Levy funds.
On March 31, Patrick Morrisey, the W.Va. Attorney General, issued a legal opinion regarding ownership of the over $300,000 in the account. He stated that neither the Commission nor the Foundation had a legal right to the money and recommended it be returned to the taxpayers of Hancock County.
The Commission has yet to publicly state they will adhere to the Attorney General's recommendation. If they do, there needs to be a thorough accounting of the levy account to ensure the taxpayers receive every dollar they are owed.
Since the Commission and the Foundation both were responsible for the account prior to the end of the 2016 Animal Shelter Operation contract, both the Commission and the Foundation owe the taxpayers an accounting of what is to be returned.
Due to the Commission issuing questionable financial transactions against the levy account without agreement of the Foundation, the Commission stated balance could be disputed. For example, it appears $2,500 was paid to a painting contractor hired by the Commission after the shelter takeover, and charged to this account. If so, this money would need to be returned to the taxpayers. Over $37,000 in invoices were deemed Foundation expenses and charged to this account prior to and after the Commission began operating the shelter.
Simply stated, neither the Commission nor the Foundation can independently declare what is the proper amount to be returned to the taxpayers. They need to work together to ensure the taxpayers receive every dollar they are owed. This is a good example of problems created when the Commission decided to take over the animal shelter.
We may not know what the Commission owes the taxpayers, but we do know the shelter is $200,000 over budget and has double the animal death rate compared to the previous operator.
Rudy Rosnick
Weirton