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Saturday, March 09, 2013 12:10 AM Chairman cedes animal authority to sheriff Commissioner, advocates: Not so fast By Janet Conner-Knox | Times Staff Writer An email message from Wilson County Commissioners Chairman Thomas Lucas has animal advocates and County Commissioner Roger Lucas wondering if the chairman overstepped his authority. The email, sent Wednesday, suggests there is little to no need for the county’s animal advisory committee, which Commissioner Roger Lucas currently chairs. Thomas Lucas said he will wait to comment on his email until after he has heard from the other commissioners. His note suggests Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard is the managing authority of animal control. The note said all persons making inquires or suggestions about animal control should seek out the sheriff. Recently, the animal committee met to talk about topics that included tethering animals in the back of pickup trucks, and if animal fees would be converted to a tax in the future. In his note, Thomas Lucas said he and Atkinson had time to read and digest the information provided in that meeting, and have come to some conclusions. "The board’s intent was to move animal control and enforcement to the sheriff’s office and under the authority of the sheriff. We believe that it should be. Animal control does have a spay and neuter policy that is being enforced. Commissioner Atkinson and I believe any new initiatives should come from the sheriff, and see no reason for a second advisory committee,” the note states. "Further there is no need for the animal control committee to meet except to hear from the sheriff,” Thomas Lucas stated. He added a new shelter was in the capital improvement plan and its development would be determined by that plan. Roger Lucas said he was shocked to receive the note. "I thought we had made good progress in that meeting,” Lucas said Friday night. "I was contemplating having the next meeting.” Roger Lucas said while he agrees that the sheriff is definitely in charge of animal control, the sheriff does not make ordinances. He enforces them. Roger Lucas said it is up to the board to set county ordinances. "We set the fines and the fees,” Roger Lucas said. "I asked about that when George Weaver was the county attorney.” Roger Lucas said he had discussions with Sheriff Woodard, director of tax office, Randy Faircloth, county attorney Steven Beamon and spent a lot of time researching what was needed. "We still haven’t made any decisions about if there would be a fee or a tax or not have anything at all,” Roger Lucas said. "I don’t know what we do about the tethering ordinance we discussed at the meeting.” Roger Lucas said if Thomas Lucas and Atkinson had discussed these issues, it seemed to him they could have told him of their decision. "If they had just called me and said something — I think that would have been appropriate,” Roger Lucas said. "Just say, they disagree and have a plan and will take it before the board.” Roger Lucas said it has been about a year and a half since the board was supposed to meet and make some decisions. "It seems like the email was a directive,” Roger Lucas said. "I assume I’ve been displaced as chairman. I have no more power, apparently.” Roger Lucas said he is also waiting to hear what the other commissioners are going to say. Local animal advocate Max Fitz-Gerald said to potentially abolish the committee is a travesty for the animals in Wilson. "They don’t have anyone to speak for them, except people,” Fitz-Gerald said. "The charade between animal advocates and county commissioners has got to stop. It makes the commissioners mighty low to just get rid of the committee.” Fitz-Gerald said without change, animals will continue to be killed and disposed of like wood. The other committee members are commissioners Thomas Lucas and Leslie Atkinson. The note, sent to all of the county commissioners, also included Wilson County Manager Ellis Williford and Assistant to the County Manager Denise Stinagle. janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847 |
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Protocol? said...
The consensus of the Animal Subcommittee Meeting held on February 19th was that the ideas agreed on would be brought up to all of the commissioners at the next meeting. The members of this subcommittee are Roger Lucas (chairman), Thomas Lucas, and Leslie Atkinson. Since Roger Lucas is the chairman of the Animal Subcommittee, any suggestions should have been brought to him and discussed before any changes were made. Why did Thomas Lucas make the decision to make these changes on his own? As chairman of the commissioners, Thomas Lucas should be well aware of the protocol that should be followed.
Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Protocol? said...The consensus of the Animal Subcommittee Meeting held on February 19th was that the ideas agreed on would be brought up to all of the commissioners at the next meeting. The members of this subcommittee are Roger Lucas (chairman), Thomas Lucas, and Leslie Atkinson. Since Roger Lucas is the chairman of the Animal Subcommittee, any suggestions should have been brought to him and discussed before any changes were made. Why did Thomas Lucas make the decision to make these changes on his own? As chairman of the commissioners, Thomas Lucas should be well aware of the protocol that should be followed.
Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4:56 PM
The consensus of the Animal Subcommittee Meeting held on February 19th was that the ideas agreed on would be brought up to all of the commissioners at the next meeting. The members of this subcommittee are Roger Lucas (chairman), Thomas Lucas, and Leslie Atkinson. Since Roger Lucas is the chairman of the Animal Subcommittee, any suggestions should have been brought to him and discussed before any changes were made. Why did Thomas Lucas make the decision to make these changes on his own? As chairman of the commissioners, Thomas Lucas should be well aware of the protocol that should be followed.
Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4:34 PM
