The Conroe City Council has nixed a proposal from Texas Litter Control (TLC) to take over operations of the Conroe Animal Shelter, signaling a shift towards direct municipal oversight of animal care facilities in the city. According to Community Impact, concerns were raised regarding the nonprofit's bid which proposed control over shelter policy, and the budget, with potential conflicts concerning state law and municipal oversight.
The shelter's future came under scrutiny following a distressing incident where a puppy severely injured itself within the facility's walls, sparking a city investigation and the termination of the previous operating contract with Care Corporation. As documented by Houston Chronicle, the city's interim Police Chief Lee Tipton voiced concerns about past non-intervention policies, noting, "I think that is what got us in this situation we are in now; we didn’t intervene."
In rejecting TLC's bid, officials zeroed in on a series of stipulations that were particularly troubling. The non-profit organization desired leverage over the shelter budget and policy decisions – notably ones pertaining to a trap-neuter-release program and decisions around returning stray animals to their owners. One quote that encapsulates the council’s trepidation came from Conroe council member Harry Hardman, who told Community Impact, ““In order to preclude us from getting back into this situation that we found ourselves in, the city must ultimately have responsibility and oversight to this thing."
Financial projections by Interim Police Chief Lee Tipton point towards an estimated cost of around $1.23 million for the city to run the shelter, a considerable increase from the current budget of $847,000, as reported by Community Impact. This financial concern, coupled with the possibility of conflicting with state law over the management of public funds, provided a compelling case to reject the nonprofit bid. Garner explained in a memo highlighted by the publication, "approving the bid may violate state law 'with respect to giving city funds to a person, or entity without sufficient oversight by the city.'"
