By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Dec. 1, 2000
Lauderdale County supervisors have decided to lease a piece of land to a local Humane Society organization, and met Thursday with Causeyville animal activist Cheryl Walton at the proposed one-acre site on Lakeland Road.
The meeting happened after the supervisors' regularly scheduled work session.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt and District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell, who are on a committee to find a solution to the county's stray dog and cat problem, met with Walton and several other animal activists more than a week ago.
Walton told them then if they would lease her some land at a low cost, she could get building materials and supplies donated.
Another option was for county officials to pay for an expansion to Meridian's animal shelter, and pay $30 an animal to shelter them.
Supervisors discussed two locations for the shelter. One is near the Phi Delta Kappa building off 65th Avenue past Old Highway 80. The property is county-owned, but falls within Meridian's city limits, so the Humane Society's building would have to be built to the city's specifications which Walton says are stricter than the county's.
The other piece of property, the one chosen, is on Lakeland Road between the paupers' cemetery and the Lost Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
The group has received an application from the Humane Society's headquarters to become a local Humane Society non-profit organization. They are awaiting IRS incorporation documents.
Walton said she prefers to have the public meeting at night so more people can attend. She urges anyone with scheduling preferences to call her at 644-9924.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.