Quorum Court Says No To $1.05 Million Shelter

— Washington County attorney George Butler warned the Quorum Court on Thursday he thinks they are “skirting on the edge” by approving architectural costs for an animal shelter but not the brick and mortar cost.

The Quorum Court could be trying to cross into executive duties, instead of its legislative responsibilities, Butler said. However, he did not object to the Quorum Court’s decision.

“I have taken the attorney’s advice and I’m going with it,” said County Judge Marilyn Edwards.

County Republicans, with the exception of Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Spears, had enough votes to block the passage of a last-second ordinance added to the Quorum Court’s agenda.

The ordinance was proposed by Justice of the Peace Candy Clark. If passed, it would authorize Edwards to spend $1.05 million for the shelter construction, plus another $150,000 to pay the shelter’s architect.

Instead, the Quorum Court approved just the architectural fees of $150,000, or 10 percent of the estimated construction cost.

The ordinance did not pass through the county’s Finance Committee.

“This is the exception to the rule,” Clark said about a funding ordinance going directly to the Quorum Court without passing through the committee.

Clark said the shelter’s architect, AFHJ Architects and Planners, was chosen by Edwards on Feb. 11 after the committee met Feb. 7. The shelter is slated to open in 2012.

The county and several cities have been contracting with Fayetteville to house stray animals.

Last year, Fayetteville informed them it can no longer house strays found outside the city because the shelter operating at capacity.

The county now has about 10 months to complete the shelter.

The county cannot sign its contract with AFHJ without money in the budget, Clark and Butler said.

Once the Quorum Court appropriates the money, they have no further say in how the construction plays out, county Republicans said, including Justices of the Peace Tom Lundstrum and Micah Neal.

“I think that we have communicated to the public that we would do our homework,” said Justice of the Peace Gary Carnahan. “People are hoping that we can figure out the cost of the shelter for less than $1 million plus. I think it would go against the trust of the public.”

Justice of the Peace Eva Madison said the Quorum Court was playing an administrative role, instead of its legislative role, by rejecting the appropriation of $1.05 million. The estimated brick and mortar cost to the shelter should not be a surprise to the Quorum Court, she said.

“I think by approving this tonight, it’s efficient government in action,” Madison said. “It has been brought before this body and the committees of this body numerous times where members of the public have come and spoken for or against. To say that these numbers are a surprise and that we need to provide yet another opportunity, I think that’s inefficient government.”

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