Tuscumbia Council votes to continue animal shelter appropriation

The Tuscumbia City Council discussed extending a yearly payment to the Colbert County Animal Shelter during its May 4 meeting.

Colbert County Commissioner Tori Bailey came before the Council to request that a yearly $7,800 payment made by Tuscumbia that goes towards a debt on the building be continued without restrictions on how the funds can be used.

Council member Sidney Nall inquired how much was left on the debt for the building, which Bailey confirmed was $22,000, or one more payment.

Funding for the animal shelter is split between the major municipalities and the county government, with each providing a portion.

Bailey asked the Tuscumbia Council to continue providing the $7,800 annual appropriation after the building debt was paid in order to provide the shelter with more funds for other concerns.

“We would like to continue that payment so we can maintain the shelter,” Bailey said. “There were some expenses we didn’t anticipate. We are supporting Lauderdale County. They have supported us in the past. There were 192 dogs recently confiscated (in Lauderdale County). We are still maintaining two horses. We have increased expenses due to veterinary care. We are asking each one of our cities and the county to continue that appropriation and remove the restriction so it doesn’t have to be used to pay off the debt.

Bailey said when the shelter pays off the debt for the building, they hope to use the ongoing funds for things like veterinary care and building maintenance.

Since the payment would not change, the amount paid by Tuscumbia each year would not increase.

“We have had some issues with flooding, and we have way more dogs than we’re supposed to have,” Bailey said. “We are responsible stewards of the funds we get. The (animal shelter) board is made up of the mayors of Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Leighton and one Colbert County Commissioner.”

Bailey said the shelter already holds as many fundraisers as possible, and Director Corey Speegle said he writes as many grant applications as he is able.

“Corey has done a wonderful job increasing the number of grants they get,” Bailey said. “He already cuts the grass himself. We have already cut as many costs as we possibly can. State law does not require us to maintain a no-kill shelter, but we do our best.”

Speegle said donations to the shelter cover 99 percent of items like dog food, cat food and cat litter, though the shelter still has to purchase items like bleach.

The Council unanimously voted to extend the payments during the regular session of the meeting.