Commissioners hold meeting on budget
By Gabby Hudson

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on Monday for comments on the county budget.

Commissioners answered questions for resident Mary Miller who asked why the Environmental Health, general fund budget had been cut $27,000.

Bill Block said that in last year's budget the commissioners had purchased three ambulances and one new garbage truck.

Miller also inquired about the new Wellness Center and why the county was spending $302,903.

Block said that the Wellness Centers board had forecasted the center to draw in around $400,000 a year. However the employees are considered county employees even though the center was considered a business that the county runs.

In the county's budget the salaries for the center total $102,60,9, part time workers, $21,863.

Also Jim Tucker, president of the Valley River Humane Society, spoke to the commissioners stating that the county had budgeted $59,600 and has been unchanged for the past four years. Tucker said that the amount sounds like a lot of money until it is broken down to the cost per animal.

Tucker also reminded the board that the shelter and the animal control portion are two separate expenses and that twothirds of the calls by animal control come from Cherokee County.

One issue commissioners would need to address was pack animals, Tucker said. He said that it was becoming a real problem not only for residents' pets but it could become a problem for children.

Tucker and Cherokee County Sheriff Keith Lovin said that a lot of the calls dealing with animals were neighbors' disputes over stray or barking dogs. Lovin said that over 600 animal calls were received last year through 911 - some were felony calls for animal abuse.

Tucker said it was estimated that five years ago the estimated cost per animal was $240. Today it cost three times that.

Tucker asked the commissioners to consider increasing their budget to include one officer's position to help answer calls.

County Manager David Badger gave an update on the new jail. Badger said that all of the cells were in place and the masonry was well on its way to completion.

Badger said that the jail was several weeks ahead of schedule.