June, 12, 1998
Humane Society hopes funding doesn't cut into spay/neuter effort
By Jodi Billerman
Staff Writer
The Seneca County Commissioners and Humane Society of Seneca County aren't out of their fix just yet.
Wednesday, the society mailed a letter to the commissioners indicating that while the society accepts the offer of $35,000 in minimum funding for the next five years, the society has postponed a vote on acceptance of the $33,500 offered for this year.
Causing the decision's delay is uncertainty over the source of the $33,500.
In March, the Humane Society requested $5,000 from the city of Tiffin in order to restart its low cost spay/neuter program. After the dispute between the Humane Society and the county came to a head, the commissioners unknowingly requested $5,000 each from the cities of Tiffin and Fostoria to help meet the society's demands.
Mayor Bernie Hohman agreed to the county's $5,000 request, not realizing that it was separate from the $5,000 already approved by the city council for the spay/neuter program. Hohman has since said that he will honor both agreements, contributing a total of $10,000, half directly and half indirectly, to the society.
But until the humane society's board of trustees is certain that the county's request will not endanger the spay/neuter program, this year's funding will remain in question.
The society's board expects to hear Tiffin's decision on or before June 22, and will make its decision shortly afterward.