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| Ron Retzloff |
| | Meetings schedule | Ad hoc committee meetings are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on every Wednesday in February.
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2/10/2009 11:14:00 AM
Commissioner tries to abandon contract with R&R Research
Ryan Jeltema
News Editor
STANTON - Two weeks after the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners drew an audience of more than 150 people mostly opposed to the county's controversial contract with R&R Research in Howard City, District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff tried to end it once and for all.
Retzloff sought a definitive vote on Monday ending the contract and revising the goals of an ad hoc committee created on Jan. 26 to study options for improving the County Animal Shelter, saying the committee will not work effectively with the lingering contract issue.
"I really feel the main issue we need to get solved to go forward with any other issue is the contract," he said. "This committee is not what is needed to make recommendations to this board. I don't think the right mindset is there to make these decisions and recommendations."
Retzloff said settling the R&R Research issue would allow the committee to focus on other necessary improvements at the shelter.
"Rather than butting heads and not going anywhere because they're at odds over one issue - the R&R contract - by doing this removes that issue," he said. "With that issue taken care of, this committee can go forward with what we need done, possibly with how we do adoptions and work with rescue groups. The makeup of this panel I don't think can come to that because of this issue."
After a lengthy discussion on the proper procedure for reconsidering action taken at a previous meeting, commissioners voted 7-2 against taking another vote on establishing the committee. Retzloff and District 1 Commissioner Ron Blanding, who made the motion on Jan. 26 to create the ad hoc committee, were the only votes in favor of reconsidering the action.
Chairman and District 7 Commissioner Patrick Q. Carr, whose leadership of the ad hoc committee and the members he selected is being criticized, said he also wants to see the R&R Research issue solved and moved forward but Retzloff's tactics were "out of order."
"It seems to me that, at this point to make a motion to do away with the contract and change what the committee is charged to do, it doesn't strike me as an appropriate motion, but I'm no expert on parliamentary procedure," Carr said. "I don't think a motion to do away with the contract squares with we did at the last meeting."
District 2 Commissioner Tom Lindeman said Retzloff's proposal seemed like a cop-out to avoid making a difficult decision in front of a large audience two weeks ago.
"All we're doing is trying to avoid. If I were in the audience I would think the Board of Commissioners is just trying to avoid three TV cameras and 150 people in the audience," he said. "If you can't vote in front of 150 people then I don't think you should vote."
Jeanne Urbanski of Coral, a member of Concerned Citizens Coalition of Montcalm, reiterated that her group and others like it are prepared to work on improvements at the shelter, but only if the R&R Research contract ends.
"With the people standing behind us now, I think we have people that can help this county and help the shelter," Urbanski said. "But until the contract with R&R is settled we're going to fight it tooth and nail."
Ad hoc committee meetings are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on every Wednesday in February.
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Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Article comment by:
Michelle Graham
Like many citizens of Montcalm County I am trying to understand why the inhumanity towards our four legged friends continues. Why has one man's desire to destroy & treat animals so inhumanly been allowed to continue. It's not like the county government is making money, just Mr Wourdenberg. And how much money does he make? What about the feelings of the citizens of this county? Do they count? Montcalm County Animal Shelter's reputation as a KILL SHELTER is known far and wide, not just within the State of Michigan, but throughout the nation. Doesn't that make your heart swell with PRIDE commissioners? It breaks mine...MLG
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Amy
Eleanor, I'm an avid deer & rabbit hunter & I love to fish! far cry from what your talking about..I couldnt have children at a very young age, I love my animals with all my heart! & would be so lost w/out them, if they ever ended up in that shelter it would kill me & looks like it would them also.
I'm glad you & your husband are still alive, but with the tech these days why do we need to take pets? Mice, Rats can be used instead! This county needs to put $ into helping people in our county spay & neuter their pets like they do in other counties & states.
I do stand up for ANIMALS RIGHTS! when it is appropate to do so & I'd haft to say this R & R Research is the place to stand!!!!!!!!
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Mary Ellen Snyder
Regarding Eleanor's comments, I would reiterate "please do your research." If you do, you'll find that random source animals (those pulled from public animal shelters or from people's yards) are seldom used in research that benefits humans. U of M medical school has published a white paper stating that random source animals secured from a Class B dealer can only be used in miscellaneous short-term projects and are not to be allowed to wake up from anesthetic. Don't confuse what R&R Research does with actual medical research...they are far, far apart. So if you take that away from the argument, what point is there in keeping the contract? Why are the commissioners so protective of the contract and of Jim Woudenberg when it's so apparent that the public is so against them? I would also like to add my "atta boy" for Commissioner Retzloff's efforts and for Commissioner Blandings efforts. Thank you from all of us.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Just ME
Why are the animal rights activists and rescue groups in the area WAITING ? Why not do something RIGHT NOW for the animals who are the silent victims in all of this. Given half the chance, I would take every one of the animals in the Shelter and hide them away from the fate that awaits them when R&R visits the Shelter. You want to do research for humans? Use death row inmates who are in the same predicement as the dogs and cats in the shelter. Oh wait---that's not very humane.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
maumau
In response to ON THE FENCE...Who are you referring to as "animal rescue groups"? CCC and MCCAW? They are not animal rescue groups. They are two groups who are trying to make positive changes in this county that the commissioners have not done. They want a spay/neuter program, volunteer program at the shelter, policies/procedures to make it easier for reputable rescues to pull dogs/cats. CCC and MCCAW have, however, donated money to rescues who pull dogs out of our shelter. Pulling dogs is only a bandaid and will not fix this mess. When Montcalm is no longer dealing with pound seizure it will be relatively easy to initiate programs to improve the shelter. Do you want to volunteer at a shelter dealing with R&R? Do you want to volunteer at a shelter that gasses animals? The groups working for change did not create this mess. Our commissioners have and are responsible for the 30 year relationship with R&R. Not just our current commissioners, but those from long ago. Do your homework, you will see that when pound seizure is eliminated from a shelter that the euthanasia rate drops, there are more adoptions, more positive programs, more volunteers and certainly more donations. CCC and MCCAW have given of their time, energy and finances to promote positive changes for our county. How about joining them and making Montcalm a better place to be? Also, Carr stated that anyone volunteering for the program would have to be able to "give and take." How do you meet the devil halfway? There was one man from CCC or MCCAW who volunteered but Carr chose not to have him on the panel. Seems he wanted to stack the deck by having Woudenberg and his vet.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Montcalm Resident
In response to On the Fence,
You have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. If you would do a little bit of research, you would know that those of us who have been the most vocal on this issue ARE the individuals who are working toward better conditions at the shelter. We ARE the ones who are rescuing the animals and finding them good homes, we ARE the donating to their care and offering suggestions. We have been all along, way before the committee was put into place.
The contract is at the heart of the issue. To have to compromise, which we were told we would have to do to be a part of the committee, goes against everything we've been fighting for. There is NO compromise or middle ground. Until the contract is gone, the negatives associated with it will remain. All of the solutions offered to improve the shelter conditions are just a band aid. They will do no good.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
On the fence
I was under the impression that the members appointed to this committee were to be objective, of all things. Why is R&R and his vet on that committee then? Wasn't the purpose to do research and come up with many various ideas for animal control and improvements? It sounds like the only thing people have done is bicker about R&R's contract?
Also, to the animal rescue groups, you claim to be "prepared" to offer solutions and play an active role in animal control, yet you want no part in giving input on this committee. You also won't do anything until R&R is out of the picture. You sound like a bunch of politicians making promises and trying to strong arm people. If you cared more about the animals welfare than a contract with R&R, you would be involved with animal control already with solutions. You wouldn't be jeopardizing an animals welfare until a contract gets sorted out. If you care so much for the animals...prove it! The public doesn't need more empty promises in this economy.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Gayle
I commend the commissioners Retzloff and Blanding for having insight for improving relations with the residents and most importently the pets of Montcalm county.An action that shows a clear vision for the county they represent. Eliminate R&R from the scene and watch what great things will happen!!
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Eleanor
Don't let the animal rights people gain control of your options. This is a much bigger issue than it seems on the surface. Please do your research about the necessary and humane use of animals in laboratories. I owe my life and that of my husband to the research that is saving lives. This is only one issue that animal rights extremism is pushing. Their ultimate goal is to do away with any relationship with or use of animals -- no pets, no farm animals, no lifesaving medical research, no meat in diets, no fishing, no hunting . . . the list is endless.
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Justin F
I thought I lived in a democracy. The cold war is over King Carr!! Would that make Jim Woudenburg your court jester or you his??
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