After 15 months of searching and discussion, the Athens City Council voted 3-to-2 Monday to relocate the animal shelter on jointly-owned property on Seven Mile Post Road.

The decision was not without controversy. Animal rights activists want a central location. City Council President Ronnie Marks wants to contract with a local veterinarian for animal services because $180,000 to move a building and $150,000-per-year budget is too steep for the city to handle.

Councilmen Jimmy Gill and Harold Wales have been in charge of finding a new location for the shelter, which has been located for more than 40 years at the east end of Sanderfer Road adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant. Gill fought any suggestion that the shelter be built on former landfill property at the end of Strain Road in back of Country Club Acres. At last, Gill and Wales recommended the Seven Mile Post Road property.

The present shelter has to be moved because of restrictions in the wake of 9/11 that say that vital municipal services, such as the wastewater treatment plant, have to be secured and it could not be made secure with the shelter on the premises.

Animal activist Shelly Brownell said being located seven miles out of town would make the shelter too inconvenient for people to drop off strays or adopt a homeless animal.

Gill commented that, “Anywhere you locate a shelter, it will be inconvenient for someone.”

After numerous comments from audience members for an in-city location, an exasperated Gill commented, “Whatever you vote tonight, that’s it. You will not hear words on this subject depart my lips again.”

Wales said if the council didn’t go with his and Gill’s recommendation, then he’d support a contract with Dr. Robert Pitman for animal control services.

“When I came on this council, we had to answer one of two questions: were we going to keep it in city services or were we going to contract with a veterinarian,” said Wales. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about this and it just wasn’t going to happen. We haven’t found anything or a better location. If not there, then we can go back to Ronnie’s suggestion.”

Marks’ main objection was the $180,000 cost of moving a city-owned building from Airport Road to Seven Mile Post and renovating it for offices and adding kennels. Plus, he said it would take an annual $150,000 appropriation to staff and run it. Marks said he made two trips to the animal shelter on the weekend and found that it was housing just two puppies.

“If we’re to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money, we need to think seriously on this issue,” said Marks.

In the end, Gill, Wales and Councilman Henry White voted to locate the shelter on land jointly owned with Limestone County Commission on Seven Mile Post Road near the solid waste transfer station. Marks and Councilman Johnny Crutcher voted against it.