Kirkwood won’t allow humane society to run shelter on campus

Local humane societies need not apply to run any animal shelter located on the Kirkwood Community College campus, leaving the operation in the city's hands.

“We don't have any interest in a non-profit running it,” Kirkwood president Mick Starcevich said this afternoon. “There are too many issues, and they don't share the same values we have.”

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's proposal for a Kirkwood facility, aired at Tuesday's joint city council-county board meeting, means the city will go it alone.

“It absolutely does” rule out a non-profit role, Oleson said.   “It's going to be the city's. They're not getting out of the (animal control) business, and it's going to be at a government site.”

Oleson, of Marion, a member of the Cedar Valley Humane Society board, co-chairs a committee investigating the county's animal control and shelter issues.

He'd hoped to convince Cedar Rapids, other cities in Linn County, and neighboring counties to support a regional animal control and shelter operated by a non-profit, as the Nebraska Humane Society does in the Omaha area.

“The ultimate goal is to remove this from government operations, and have a non-profit run it,” Oleson said. “Instead (the city is) going the opposite way, chasing FEMA money.”

Oleson said  he'll continue to pursue the non-profit option with other Linn County cities and with neighboring counties.

“I'm done working and talking on (with the city),” he said. “We wanted to make sure they were committed partners. I'll go to the next (CVHS) board meeting and say there's no interest on the city's part.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood is willing to host a regional facility, just not one operated by a humane society or other non-profit animal group. Such organizations couldn't operate under Kirkwood's policies – “animal testing, euthanasia” being two issues, Starcevich said.

“We would have no problem doing something with the city,” he said. “We haven't talked specifically with the county, but I'm sure we could.”

Starcevich said the college wouldn't give the city the property for a new shelter, as city officials said Tuesday. The city would buy or lease the site instead.

“We'd take care of the outside facility as part of the purchase price,” he said. “We want to be a good partner, but it can't cost more than we can afford.”

Local humane societies need not apply to run any animal shelter located on the Kirkwood Community College campus, leaving the operation in the city's hands.

“We don't have any interest in a non-profit running it,” Kirkwood president Mick Starcevich said this afternoon. “There are too many issues, and they don't share the same values we have.”

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's proposal for a Kirkwood facility, aired at Tuesday's joint city council-county board meeting, means the city will go it alone.

“It absolutely does” rule out a non-profit role, Oleson said.   “It's going to be the city's. They're not getting out of the (animal control) business, and it's going to be at a government site.”

Oleson, of Marion, a member of the Cedar Valley Humane Society board, co-chairs a committee investigating the county's animal control and shelter issues.

He'd hoped to convince Cedar Rapids, other cities in Linn County, and neighboring counties to support a regional animal control and shelter operated by a non-profit, as the Nebraska Humane Society does in the Omaha area.

“The ultimate goal is to remove this from government operations, and have a non-profit run it,” Oleson said. “Instead (the city is) going the opposite way, chasing FEMA money.”

Oleson said  he'll continue to pursue the non-profit option with other Linn County cities and with neighboring counties.

“I'm done working and talking on (with the city),” he said. “We wanted to make sure they were committed partners. I'll go to the next (CVHS) board meeting and say there's no interest on the city's part.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood is willing to host a regional facility, just not one operated by a humane society or other non-profit animal group. Such organizations couldn't operate under Kirkwood's policies – “animal testing, euthanasia” being two issues, Starcevich said.

“We would have no problem doing something with the city,” he said. “We haven't talked specifically with the county, but I'm sure we could.”

Starcevich said the college wouldn't give the city the property for a new shelter, as city officials said Tuesday. The city would buy or lease the site instead.

“We'd take care of the outside facility as part of the purchase price,” he said. “We want to be a good partner, but it can't cost more than we can afford.”

Local humane societies need not apply to run any animal shelter located on the Kirkwood Community College campus, leaving the operation in the city's hands.

“We don't have any interest in a non-profit running it,” Kirkwood president Mick Starcevich said this afternoon. “There are too many issues, and they don't share the same values we have.”

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's proposal for a Kirkwood facility, aired at Tuesday's joint city council-county board meeting, means the city will go it alone.

“It absolutely does” rule out a non-profit role, Oleson said. “It's going to be the city's. They're not getting out of the (animal control) business, and it's going to be at a government site.”

Oleson, of Marion, a member of the Cedar Valley Humane Society board, co-chairs a committee investigating the county's animal control and shelter issues.

He'd hoped to convince Cedar Rapids, other cities in Linn County, and neighboring counties to support a regional animal control and shelter operated by a non-profit, as the Nebraska Humane Society does in the Omaha area.

“The ultimate goal is to remove this from government operations, and have a non-profit run it,” Oleson said. “Instead (the city is) going the opposite way, chasing FEMA money.”

Oleson said he'll continue to pursue the non-profit option with other Linn County cities and with neighboring counties.

“I'm done working and talking on (with the city),” he said. “We wanted to make sure they were committed partners. I'll go to the next (CVHS) board meeting and say there's no interest on the city's part.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood is willing to host a regional facility, just not one operated by a humane society or other non-profit animal group. Such organizations couldn't operate under Kirkwood's policies – “animal testing, euthanasia” being two issues, Starcevich said.

“We would have no problem doing something with the city,” he said. “We haven't talked specifically with the county, but I'm sure we could.”

Starcevich said the college wouldn't give the city the property for a new shelter, as city officials said Tuesday. The city would buy or lease the site instead.

“We'd take care of the outside facility as part of the purchase price,” he said. “We want to be a good partner, but it can't cost more than we can afford.”

Local humane societies need not apply to run any animal shelter located on the Kirkwood Community College campus, leaving the operation in the city's hands.

“We don't have any interest in a non-profit running it,” Kirkwood president Mick Starcevich said this afternoon. “There are too many issues, and they don't share the same values we have.”

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's proposal for a Kirkwood facility, aired at Tuesday's joint city council-county board meeting, means the city will go it alone.

“It absolutely does” rule out a non-profit role, Oleson said. “It's going to be the city's. They're not getting out of the (animal control) business, and it's going to be at a government site.”

Oleson, of Marion, a member of the Cedar Valley Humane Society board, co-chairs a committee investigating the county's animal control and shelter issues.

He'd hoped to convince Cedar Rapids, other cities in Linn County, and neighboring counties to support a regional animal control and shelter operated by a non-profit, as the Nebraska Humane Society does in the Omaha area.

“The ultimate goal is to remove this from government operations, and have a non-profit run it,” Oleson said. “Instead (the city is) going the opposite way, chasing FEMA money.”

Oleson said he'll continue to pursue the non-profit option with other Linn County cities and with neighboring counties.

“I'm done working and talking on (with the city),” he said. “We wanted to make sure they were committed partners. I'll go to the next (CVHS) board meeting and say there's no interest on the city's part.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood is willing to host a regional facility, just not one operated by a humane society or other non-profit animal group. Such organizations couldn't operate under Kirkwood's policies – “animal testing, euthanasia” being two issues, Starcevich said.

“We would have no problem doing something with the city,” he said. “We haven't talked specifically with the county, but I'm sure we could.”

Starcevich said the college wouldn't give the city the property for a new shelter, as city officials said Tuesday. The city would buy or lease the site instead.

“We'd take care of the outside facility as part of the purchase price,” he said. “We want to be a good partner, but it can't cost more than we can afford.”

Local humane societies need not apply to run any animal shelter located on the Kirkwood Community College campus, leaving the operation in the city's hands.

“We don't have any interest in a non-profit running it,” Kirkwood president Mick Starcevich said this afternoon. “There are too many issues, and they don't share the same values we have.”

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's proposal for a Kirkwood facility, aired at Tuesday's joint city council-county board meeting, means the city will go it alone.

“It absolutely does” rule out a non-profit role, Oleson said. “It's going to be the city's. They're not getting out of the (animal control) business, and it's going to be at a government site.”

Oleson, of Marion, a member of the Cedar Valley Humane Society board, co-chairs a committee investigating the county's animal control and shelter issues.

He'd hoped to convince Cedar Rapids, other cities in Linn County, and neighboring counties to support a regional animal control and shelter operated by a non-profit, as the Nebraska Humane Society does in the Omaha area.

“The ultimate goal is to remove this from government operations, and have a non-profit run it,” Oleson said. “Instead (the city is) going the opposite way, chasing FEMA money.”

Oleson said he'll continue to pursue the non-profit option with other Linn County cities and with neighboring counties.

“I'm done working and talking on (with the city),” he said. “We wanted to make sure they were committed partners. I'll go to the next (CVHS) board meeting and say there's no interest on the city's part.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood is willing to host a regional facility, just not one operated by a humane society or other non-profit animal group. Such organizations couldn't operate under Kirkwood's policies – “animal testing, euthanasia” being two issues, Starcevich said.

“We would have no problem doing something with the city,” he said. “We haven't talked specifically with the county, but I'm sure we could.”

Starcevich said the college wouldn't give the city the property for a new shelter, as city officials said Tuesday. The city would buy or lease the site instead.

“We'd take care of the outside facility as part of the purchase price,” he said. “We want to be a good partner, but it can't cost more than we can afford.”