Animal Shelter to purchase incinerator
May 21—GREENSBURG — In a recent special session of the Decatur County Commissioners, Decatur County Animal Shelter Director Minde Myers was asked to clarify Animal Control responsibilities concerning animals running at large.
Commissioner Jeremy Pasel said he has received calls about dogs running loose in Westport. He asked Myers why she had not responded to calls such as this, to which she said it had always been policy not to respond.
Confusion arose as to which were policies and which were ordinances, and so Commissioner Pasel asked Myers to coordinate with Decatur County Dispatch and the Decatur County Sheriff's office to establish rules governing after-hours response to animal-at-large calls.
In Monday's regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting, Myers appeared again, but this time to request permission to purchase a used incinerator from a retiring veterinarian in Rushville.
Myers explained that it would replace the dumpster currently used for animal disposal, and eliminate the $100 monthly fee attached to the dumpster's use.
She said the unit had only been lightly used and the total cost of the incinerator and fuel tank was $2,400. She also reported a new incinerator could cost in excess of $5,000.
She said she had the budget for it in her unrestricted fund, and planned to install it behind the shed on the shelter's property.
She acknowledged the incinerator would produce an unpleasant odor, but said the existing dumpster odor was worse. She pledged not to run it during fair week, or at times when the odor would be detrimental to fairground activities.
Myers also planned to offer shelter clients cremation service to generate funds.
Commissioner Mark Koors asked if installment was included in the price of the unit and Myers said it was not, but the installation fee "wouldn't be much" and the current owner of the unit was willing to train shelter staff on its use.
Myers also said she would install a privacy fence around it for safety reasons and to screen the process from passers-by.
After Commissioner Pasel questioned her about the longevity of such a device and the current monthly cost of disposal, Pasel said it seemed like the purchase would be wise.
He moved to allow the purchase and to pay for the fencing around the device; Commissioners Koors and Blodgett voted in favor of the motion.
Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com.
