Lyon County’s contract with Raise Your Paws will still expire next month; however, their working relationship will continue on a different basis moving forward.
During the commission’s regular action meeting Thursday, Raise Your Paws owner Melanie Smith came before commissioners, two weeks after the commission voted to terminate its contract with the local business due to financial matters. County leadership stated at that time the county had only used the business on 12 occasions for nine quarantine holds and three strays, paying $1,000 per month for the service, totaling $36,000, a cost they say was too much for such little use.
Smith, during her presentation to commissioners Thursday, offered conflicting data, saying the business had actually provided 12 quarantines, 18 strays with an additional six puppies and four medical holds over the last three years and had only invoiced the county $31,000, saying she chose not to charge the full cost for slower months.
When asked where the discrepancy occurred between the two, Commissioner Chris Bartel says the county was looking at the situation from the perspective of simple math and contractual requirements.
Smith told KVOE News Thursday that she had no prior knowledge of the county’s decision to terminate the contract last month until after the decision had already been made.
Commission Chairman Ken Duft says the decision came as part of a routine evaluation of the contract, which was on a revolving basis and set for review every February.
Smith stated multiple times that she had no animosity towards the county, noting that she understood why they would make the decision, looking at the numbers they had before them at the time. That said, Smith felt it was important to appear Thursday and provide her data sayign she had no intention of trying to reverse the county’s decision on the contract.
But, commissioners did reverse course to a degree as they voted unanimously to continue working with Raise Your Paws on an as-needed basis rather than through a “retainer,” as commissioner Bartel put it. Smith says she was pleased with this decision, saying she wants to maintain a working relationship with the county.
Commissioners echoed this sentiment with Bartel, Duft and Commissioner Doug Peck all commending the work Smith has done to this point. Duft added that he feels it is important that taxpayers not be responsible for paying the cost of sheltering strays or quarantines, saying that should be the responsibility of the animals’ owners.
The previously terminated contract will still expire next month; however, the county will be responsible for paying the remainder of its “retainer,” $2,000, to Raise Your Paws before the contract ends.
In other business Thursday, commissioners approved the following items:
*The fiscal 2027 Adult Services and Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan grants and budgets for Community Corrections
*A nearly $44,000 purchase of a used road broom from Murphy Tractor & Equipment as presented by the Lyon County Highway Department. County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield will also discuss what are called Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory, as outlined by the Federal Highway Administration
*A nearly $6,800 renewal of GeoPermits Portal hosting through Schneider Geospatial, as presented by Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Sam Seeley
*Two construction contracts — over $383,000 to Mitchell Markowitz for a Community Development Block Grant rehabilitation project in downtown Emporia, overseen by Fork & Spoon LLC and over $2.6 million to Senne & Company for a Community Development Block Grant benefiting Southwick House’s construction project in the 100 block of East Logan
County Commissioners will reconvene next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers for their regular action meeting.
