Though the City of Selma has poured about

$400,000 into the new Central Alabama Animal Shelter Facility, no one seems happy.

The city, according to Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr., the city expected help from the Dallas County Commission, help that the commission said was never promised the $75,000 the city has asked for.

In response, Perkins has proposed, as part of his Budget Reduction Strategy, a plan in which the city would assume control of the facility.

“The $75,000 that we anticipated will not be forthcoming,” Perkins said. “We should not defer completing this project and moving forward with it.”

Under Perkins plan, the city would assume control of the facility, renaming it the Animal Control of Selma and cutting the staff from five to four people.

Under the original plan, it appeared the Central Alabama Animal Shelter would participate, but Perkins said they wanted to have say over the city employees that would work in the facility.

“The city has put a substantial amount of money in this, (but) we have had some issues with personnel management because the people that work for the shelter work for the City of Selma,” Perkins said. “I am really concerned. I strongly urge against us continuing with that structure.”

Perkins said he has spoken with Probate Judge John Jones who indicated the county is willing to discuss a cost per animal, similar to the situation at the city jail.

However, Perkins had originally planned for

$50,000 in support from the Central Alabama Animal Shelter, however that appears to be pulled as well.

“At this point I am suggesting we forgo all support and move forward with the completion of this project,” Perkins said.

The city has little other option, having already spent so much on the project.

“That money was earmarked by some former and current elected officials for that purpose only,” Perkins said. “We have been trying to get an animal shelter and subsequent enforceable leash law.

I am asking you to seriously consider

(this). We’re accepting the position that has been provided to us.

Whenever they choose to participate, we welcome that participation.”

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw and Councilman Johnnie Leashore both expressed a willingness to use oil lease money on the project to keep the costs from hurting the general fund budget.

After some discussion about the various roles of the city and each agency, the council’s consensus was to move forward with the project.