By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
June 15, 2001
Lauderdale County supervisors have agreed to consider homeowners complaints about the possibility of an animal shelter being built behind their homes.
Residents Tony and Marianne Todd and Ken Apperson attended a supervisors' work session about the matter Thursday.
Supervisors are considering building the shelter on 2 acres of county-owned industrial property on Phi Delta Kappa Road, which runs behind a small subdivision off Old Eighth Street Road.
Tony Todd told supervisors he and his wife have seven children and are concerned about animals being housed 125 feet from his back yard. He said he is concerned about noise, odor and a potential decrease in his property value.
Apperson said the pound would be 50-75 feet from the property he's owned for 11 years.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt, who serves on the county's Animal Control Committee with District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell, said with health department regulations and restrictions, he doesn't think noise and odor will be a problem.
District 4 Supervisor Q.V. Sykes said noise is not a problem at the city pound.
Marianne Todd said the city pound is located near railroad tracks in a business district with a lot of traffic. Noise would be more noticeable in a quiet subdivision, she said.
The Todds said their back yard was flooded when county crews began clearing the site last week.
Board President Jimmie Smith suggested Hitt and Boswell address their concerns before making future committee recommendations.
After the residents departed, Smith told Hitt he is concerned about a "swell of propaganda" circulating that supervisors don't support the Humane Society.
Hitt said that is not the impression he gets.
Smith suggested the committee put its recommendations in writing.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.