Before Tony Byrne’s Top of the Morning article, I had asked one of the board members (Nan Garrison) the date of the next board meeting (thinking they were open to the public).

I informed her that I, as well as several others, would like to attend these meetings and discuss the recent changes to the location/building plan of the new Natchez-Adams County Humane Society facility. I was informed that the only open “meetings” are the fundraiser parties. I have been to these and I assure you, there is no open discussion thereby allowing those present to vote on matters related to the NACHS. (Although, these parties are fun!)

There are many of us who have donated money to the original building fund as presented by the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society and Vidal Davis. These same plans are currently (as of 6/1/11) on one of the NACHS web sites (natchezhumanesociety.com).

Also, during a discussion with this board member, it was noted that the land was outside the city limits and would  present  a problem with sewage treatment. Surely, there is a solution to this possible problem since the proposed location is near Co-Lin/Alcorn College and only one-half mile from the city limits.

The advantages of the original proposed location are many — for one, there would be plenty of land for larger animals. Would this be the case for the most recently proposed change of location?

Another concern is the proximity to veterinary clinics. What about a vet on site?  Perhaps a vet could have free or discounted office space in exchange for discounted rates on treatment of the shelter animals. Additionally, many other humane societies are located outside the city limits.

I don’t know all of the answers or even all of the questions; however, this is why a meeting open to the public with the give and take by all parties would prove quite beneficial to all involved parties. It is a pity that the only public information provided by the board is private conversations, hearsay, the web site, and The Natchez Democrat (Thank you Democrat!). An open conversation involving all the board members, contributors, and any interested members is a must for a clear understanding on both sides of the issue. In the meantime, I do not think any of the building funds collected should be spent or any building contract awarded until an open meeting is held whereby all NACHS members (not just the board members) are allowed to discuss and vote on the two different proposed plans.

Marie Gasquet

Natchez resident