County split in animal shelter privatization debate

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Director Kristina Montgomery carries a Beagle puppy out for a bathroom break at the Porter County animal shelter Wednesday Aug. 31, 2011. Montgomery has been on the post for just over a week. | Andy Lavalley~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 4, 2011 7:23PM

VALPARAISO — It’s cats versus dogs in the animal world, but in the world of Porter County government, its councilmen versus commissioners in the proposal to privatize the county animal shelter.

County Council President Dan Whitten, D-at large, turned a few heads at Tuesday’s council meeting where he suggested withdrawing county control over the troubled shelter, feeling the private sector could do a better job caring for the animals.

The pitch seemed nothing more than “political grandstanding” to County Commissioner Carole Knoblock. She said she was upset the council did not acknowledge the recent efforts by the Board of Commissioners to add new staff and two boards to fix the problems.

“We already have some good things going on,” she said.

The shelter has always been maintained as a county entity but has been overseen solely by the commissioners the past five years when former County Commissioner Bob Harper turned it into a no-kill shelter.

Both Knoblock and County Commissioner President John Evans said it is their board members who should be leading the discussion regarding the shelter’s future. From Evans view, the commissioners are marching toward progress and would hate to see it spoiled by talks of giving the shelter away. However, he does find merit in holding discussions with outside groups on how to make it improvements.

“At this time, I’m focused on making what we have now work. That’s always been our charge,” Evans said. “But we would be glad to talk to anybody the council brings forward.”

Evans said the shelter needs to at least have some kind of structure and not be turned over to a group of volunteers. He and fellow County Commissioner Nancy Adams are hoping to add more staff.

The shelter has three full-time employees, including new director Kristina Montgomery, and one part-time worker.

Montgomery, in her first 10 days of work has helped remove fire hazards, cleaned dog kennels, implemented new sanitation protocols and set up quarantine rooms to stop the spread of disease.

Adams said the commissioners selected Montgomery because she helped make improvements at her last job in Chicago Heights, Ill. Montgomery got her start at Bloomington Animal Care and Control.

The biggest issues remaining are the main building itself and staff numbers, which Montgomery hopes the County Council will support with funding.

“We’re all supporting the same idea. We all want a better animal shelter that can be a resource to the community and something the county can be proud of,” Montgomery said.

Councilman Jim Polarek, R-4th, reiterated his suggestion of the county building a new shelter and then stepping aside to make room for a private group. He believes the county could recoup its costs by leasing the building to a tenant but is adamant that the county have no further role.

“Other than having a signed contract, I don’t think the county needs to be involved in it,” he said. “It’s all just political football.”

Even if the commissioners’ plan does prove effective, Polarek fears the problems would come back eventually.

Councilwoman Sylvia Graham, D-at large, is one council member who does not share the push to privatization. Her ambition is to have a center that can accommodate the population of county residents who want to drop off animals. She is hopeful that a plan will come together but feels it will need time to develop.

“I do feel the county does have a responsibility in controlling the animals and I think we are on the right track,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair for us just to throw it down the drain.”

Councilwoman Laura Blaney, D-at large, said the discussion is still in its infancy but knows private groups exist that are well-organized and well-funded that could provide care better than the county.

Blaney’s top concern now is seeing the development of a spay and neuter program.

Montgomery said the shelter is working with a local veterinarian to see that all cats are now spayed or neutered before adoption. She is hoping to work out a similar agreement with dogs.

The shelter also wants to beef up its adoption and foster programs, providing a friendlier experience to increase adoption numbers, Montgomery said.