The Vermilion County Board has approved a $24-thousand dollar budget amendment to pay for the upkeep of some animals being held in an alleged animal cruelty case. But Board member Jerry Hawker thinks the county could have avoided the expense if a security bond would have been filed.
Hawker says the county is paying $3,379 a month to board 14 chickens, two horses, two goats and a couple pigs until the case is resolved. And Hawker noted that by the next court date the total cost of boarding the animals for the Vermilion County Department of Animal Regulation since last October could amount to over $27-thousand dollars.
The budget amendment was approved with 17 board members voting ‘yes’, one ‘no’, one ‘passed’, one voted ‘present’, and six were absent.
Also during their meeting, a vacancy was declared for the seat which had been held by Charles Mockbee, who recently died. County Board Chairman Larry Baughn said letters would be sent to the chairmen of both the Vermilion County Democratic and Republican parties informing them about the vacancy.
And the board heard more complaints Tuesday night from some members who were attempting to attend the meeting using Zoom. Some said they had problems hearing what was being said during the meeting. Board Chairman Larry Baughn said a simple solution might be to have Zoom-only or in-person meetings as he promised to continue to try to resolve the problem.
