Humane Society issues discussed at Town Council

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

On the evening of  Monday, May 28, Pincher Creek Humane Society (PCHS) President Clara Yagos addressed Pincher Creek's Town Council to discuss issues surrounding the current lease for the existing Humane Society building and other issues regarding a proposed new building for the organization.

Councillor Sahra Hancock asked how much money PCHS has set aside for the new building.  "We are arrested in the process," replied Yagos.  "I cannot write grants until we get a written agreement.  The primary grant I'm going to go after is the capital grant through the lottery," she said.  According to Yagos, each grant she has looked into has asked what agreements are already in place, and requires a copy of those agreements before the society can proceed.

"If you look at the current proposed way we want to build it, we can always build up in the future, for cats and things like that.  What we want to do, what we want to build it on, is we want to put heated cement down for the whole thing, and that is really going to help with the heating costs." She also explained concerns over drainage codes that have changed over the years since the present structure was built, and touched on issues regarding parking as well.


Councillor Don Anderberg said "We did have a joint regional meeting here about a month or so ago, and the shelter was on the agenda." He said the Intermunicipal Development Committee was exploring the idea of a single facility that would service the Crowsnest Pass, as well as Pincher Creek and surrounding areas. Anderberg also expressed a desire to have the issue brought up at the next Committee of the Whole.

Mayor Ernie Olsen brought up volunteerism as a possible issue with regionalization.  "I think the answer for that one was, if the building is anywhere else other than in Pincher Creek here we will lose volunteers," said Yagos.  In fact, I think we will even lose part of our board of directors.  I think this a great location, I think it serves the town of Pincher Creek really well.  Our main concern is waiting until an agreement comes up before building this facility, because we have already been waiting for a period of time."

Yagos said the PCHS already serves the areas proposed, except for the Crowsnest Pass. "I think we can bring the Crowsnest Pass in, in the future, when and if they're ready, and that's what we've talked about."

Yagos said educating the public is a direction the society would like expand upon.  "Spay and neuter is so important.  If we had spay and neuter, we wouldn't have a cat problem in Pincher Creek, and I know that."

Councillor Hancock said she would like to see PCHS pay for their utilities, even if it is ultimately covered by joint funding.  The Town currently covers water, sewer, garbage and heat for the building.  She said she wants to see those costs reflected in the society's books.  "I would like to see it shifted to the organization, and then have it either appropriately funded thought the municipalities, but something just so it shows up on your books."

"We have a lot of conversations about hidden costs that get absorbed through the town," continued Hancock.  "It is about getting a true understanding of what a service costs to a community."

Councillor Roy Smyth expressed thanks to the society for taking care of the area's animals.  Councillor Lorne Jackson said "If you don't look after the most vulnerable members of a society, you don't have a society."

Yagos concluded by saying "We would really like to get this facility built, it's important to us."

Council discussed the issue later on in the meeting.  Councillor Hancock re-affirmed her opinion about the importance of separating the services used by PCHS from the Town. "If they express that's a hardship, we should be open to the conversation of giving them a utility grant," she said.

Councillor Anderberg expressed concern that it be communicated clearly to PCHS that the proposed lease on the current building was flexible.  He suggested that the draft be presented with the understanding that "Here's the draft agreement the Town thinks will work for them, would you please look through it and come back with your comments, and then we negotiate the lease."

"We want to work together try to make it work for everybody," he continued. "If they end up paying the utilities, I agree with Sahra, it can handled a different way.  This is the first kick at the cat that they need for them to move forward on." Hancock suggested attaching a memorandum of understanding indicating that the Town would continue to carry the costs "to give them time to adjust for their next operating budget."

Councillor Smyth said "The benefit is that if we send the draft agreement over to them, they can use that as their formal letter to send off with their grant applications."

Council ultimately directed that the draft and memorandum will be forwarded to the Humane Society.