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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The Humane Society of Chilton County nonprofit organization was dissolved after the board voted to dissolve on Jan. 23 following the county taking over operations at the animal shelter earlier this month. Humane Society President Jimmie Hardee made the motion to dissolve the board at a board meeting that had a full crowd at the Chilton County Courthouse, and the motion was passed unanimously.

After a long journey the last few years, the goal from everyone involved is still the same.

“We have one goal, and that is the animals,” Hardee said.

On Jan. 14, the current Chilton County Commission continued on the ground set by the prior commission by taking over operations at the HSCC building. The county has owned the building the humane society has been in for decades, and after taking over operations, has since established an animal control department that will handle all animal care.

The Chilton County Animal Control Department was set up to comply with state laws. Alabama Code Section 3-7A-7 states that each county in the state shall provide a suitable county pound, or shelter, and impounding officer for stray dogs, cats and ferrets. In recent times, the Humane Society was unable to take in animals at the shelter due to overcrowding, which violates the state code. Over the last year, the county has been tasked with establishing an animal control department to meet those state mandates and bring the shelter back into code.

The Humane Society board was left in place after the county took over operations to raise funds for the animal control. The question was raised about the future of the nonprofit and not needing to have a board be there just to raise funds. When asked what their wishes were, the board members recommended dissolving. The motion was made, but Hardee opened the floor for public comments before officially passing it.

Comments were centered around what will happen with the nonprofit’s funds they already have and where they will go. A concern was that the funds from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization have to be transferred over to another 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization only. However, the most updated bylaws state that funds can also be transferred to a federal or local government as well. All assets and funds from the Humane Society will go to the county and Chilton County Animal Control and be used “for the best care of the animals,” Hardee said.

There is currently $14,476.21 in the general fund account, and $4,950.63 in the fundraising account for the shelter. All utility bills like internet, power and water were switched over to the county as well. The goal is to have all accounts, monies and assets completely transferred to the county by Feb. 1 so everything can be dissolved by then.

The county hired Christina Bollack as the new director of the Chilton County Animal Shelter, the new name of the building at 139 Shade Tree Drive, Clanton. Bollack is a county employee, and the department is also in the process of hiring full-time technicians through the animal control department and will eventually hire an assistant director to help work alongside Bollack. Some volunteers, former humane society employees and volunteers not prior affiliated with the shelter all have come by to help with tasks.

Some employees were contracted to work at the shelter, and they will be paid until the end of the month. Chilton County Commissioner and co-liaison for the shelter for the commission Alan Childress commended the volunteers that have come in and helped with feeding animals, cleaning cages and more. This includes coordinating with the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office to bring inmates to the shelter to help with cleaning and more.

“These contracted employees are doing a fantastic job down there helping Christina do the best they can,” Hardee said. “With the help of the community, we still have a lot of volunteers going down there.”

Hardee shot down the “keyboard warriors” on social media that have caused an uproar on the happenings the last few months. The Chilton County Animal Control building is currently not open to the public as they work through the transition and deep cleaning of the facility. Hardee encourages people to visit the shelter when it opens back up to the public

“I encourage that if you work in rescue, go talk to Christina with an open mind and just listen to what she has to say,” Hardee said. “She is not going to look in the past … She will lead this county in the right direction, I do believe that. We will see a change in the betterment of these animals, a change in rescue and giving people a chance to adopt these animals.”

The animal shelter is expected to be back open to the public after the end of January.