KINGWOOD — The Preston County Humane Society is asking the county commission to contribute $5,000.
The Preston Commission hasn’t contributed to the society in the past, but Treasurer Debbie DeLauder said it needs to better balance its private and public donations in order to continue receiving foundation grants.
The society’s primary missions are to aid with feral cat colonies by paying for the cats to be spayed or neutered and to provide help to residents to have their pets spayed or neutered.
Over the last six years, the humane society has helped with spaying and neutering of 1,105 animals, including 202 pets last year and 50 feral cats.
The group has received grants from the Peterman Foundation. Last year’s was $10,000. DeLauder said that Peterman is concerned about the group’s ratio of public to private donations. In order to maintain its status under the IRS, Peterman has to ensure that the groups it funds meet the ratio.
DeLauder said her reading of the IRS code is that 33 percent of their funding must be public, but the Peterman Foundation indicated it should be more. So the humane society is hoping to up its funding to 50 percent public and 50 percent private.
To that end, it asked the commission for help. Commissioners Dave Price, Don Smith and Samantha Stone said they would consider the request. DeLauder asked for an answer by July 1, which is when the county’s new fiscal year begins.
“There are so many people out in this county taking care of animals,” DeLauder said. “They’re just doing the right thing.”
Also Monday, commissioners:
reappointed Mike Argabrite and Joshua Waugh to three-year terms on the Preston County Parks and Recreation Board, retroactive to Dec. 31.
appointed Matthew Weaver to a three-year term on the parks board, effective Feb. 4.
was told by County Administrator Kathy Mace she has asked Bri-Ton Heating & Cooling to provide an estimate for central air and a new furnace at the building at the county farm that is rented to the wrestling program.
was told by Mace the company installing a new elevator in the courthouse annex still has not begun work. She continues to push the firm for a start date on the project.
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