OTTAWA – Franklin County commissioners disagreed Monday over a proposal to give the old Bea Martin Peck animal shelter in southern Ottawa to the Prairie Paws animal shelter. Under the proposal, Prairie Paws, which is the former Bea Martin Peck shelter would sell the land to the Franklin County Fair Board to be used to pay down debt for its new site east of Ottawa. However, that plan hit a snag when it was discovered that the old site at 17th and Elm, which was donated to the group and used as the animal shelter for 60 years, actually belongs to the county. Commissioner Colt Waymire says the county should sell and keep the money. Giving the site to Prairie Paws is giving to a charity, he said. Commissioner Don Stottlemire disagreed, saying that the site had been used by the animal shelter for 60 years and that the county didn’t know that the site was supposed to go to the county after the shelter left. The county indirectly benefits because debt payments reduce the county’s share of the cost to move the shelter. Commissioners were expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 a.m.
