By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Humane Society raised $3,030 with its recent Bark in the Park event.

The funds came at a crucial time since the organization owes $11,000 in veterinarian bills, not including bills for October.

Treasurer Bill McCay gave an update on the Humane Society’s financial situation during the monthly board meeting on Nov. 2.

There was $4,300 in the bank and $3,400 in the group’s Pay Pal account.

McCay said he did have money set aside for payroll and the payroll taxes.

Funding was a reoccurring theme during the board meeting.

Board member Jeff Melton said the board needs to get a plan together for reimbursing board member Amy Nichols for her gas money when responding to cruelty or after-hours animal concerns.

“I’ve helped a total in the community after hours (of) 18 people,” Melton said.

Nichols uses her own vehicle to respond to the calls.

During the October meeting, Melton had asked Nichols to bring him the gas receipts so he could help with the costs. Nichols said she had given some of them to him and had been reimbursed.

“We have got to find a way to pay her for this,” Melton said.

“If we do it that way, I want the calls to come through the shelter, not just through her,” shelter director Tonya Terreros said.

Melton said it needs to be organized and they need to “get a plan and work the plan … find out who we need to call and get it done.”

McCay responded later in the meeting by telling Melton, “All of this that you are talking about … ‘making a plan and do’ requires money that we do not have.”

“We can get more money if we get the audit taken care of,” Melton said.

Having a completed audit can open up grant and funding opportunities from organizations, such as United Way.

Hyche shared reports printed out from the Square pay system that has been implemented, and said it will “provide better information for better audits.”

McCay said he will get will Hyche on what information needs to be submitted to him about deposits each week.

Melton said the Chilton County Commission had given the organization one year to get an audit, and that time would be up in a week.

“My point is if we only lack a week, let’s get it done,” Melton said.

Hyche said they had given the organization six months to start and audit, and it had a contract in place within that time.

Janice Hull of Hull & Russell said she would be meeting with McCay to get some final deposit slips, but she had finished reconciling the cash with the books.

“We are within just a few hundred dollars of that, which is acceptable,” Hull said.

She also needs copies of minutes and “evidence of accounts payable.”

“I think I am ready to write the report as soon as I see those things, “ Hull said.

The Humane Society first discussed the audit at the Jan. 5 meeting after the Chilton County Commission and Clanton City Council requested one. By the April 4 meeting, the board had signed a contract with Hull & Russell. However, it was delayed because of pressing tax season work for the firm and the board’s treasurer.

In October, the shelter took in 218 animals, only 28 were adopted. There were 105 that were transferred out to rescue. Ninety-one animals were euthanized.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a new pest control service to better keep insects and rodents out of the building. The new plan provides more services for about $4 more than the shelter is paying now, according to Hyche. Initial purchase of traps and equipment will be a one-time cost of $415. Melton abstained from the vote a saying he needed more information. President Katherine Reece was absent, but had sent a proxy vote of yes.

The Humane Society board, which runs the county’s only animal shelter, meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library.