City, county work together to support animal shelter

The Bloomington City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the Monroe County Animal Shelter Wednesday. The deal requires the county to compensate Bloomington $133,396 for the space it provides to the county and for services, such as the Monroe County Animal Shelter, which the city provides for the county.\n"This is something we do every year," said Denise Drivers, the director of the shelter, referring to the agreement. \n"We have four programs in the animal control department, and Monroe County pays a percentage of one of those programs," she said. \nSeveral council members asked if the shelter received funding from surrounding counties who contribute to the animal control problem.\n"Animals don't know county lines," said Drivers, referring to the fact that the Monroe County shelter takes in animals from surrounding counties regardless of where they're from, provided they were found in Monroe County.\nCouncil member David Sabbagh joked that "animals probably have a better knowledge of county lines than most citizens."\nCouncil members said the agreement benefits the city and the county.\n"This is a good example of city and county cooperation," said councilman Jeffrey Willsey.\nDrivers said the shelter is "very excited" about a new facility which will be funded by public fundraising events, part of which will kick off Oct. 22.\nThe council also heard a new amendment which would change several traffic and pedestrian crossing areas around town.\nSome of the proposed changes would add stop signs at the intersections of Fourth Street and Indiana Avenue, Smith Avenue and Maple Street and Wapehani and Weimer Road. The Fourth Street and Indiana Avenue intersection would be converted into a four-way stop.\nDrivers headed through North Drive and Henderson Street would see a change in the speed limit there, slowing drivers to 20 mph.\nAttorney Kenn Nunn's plan to designate an area of South College Avenue into an economic area has been put on hold. The council passed a motion to table an ordinance giving Nunn permission to convert 121 S. College Ave. into a designated economic area, giving Nunn until the end of the calendar year to revive the motion or it will automatically die.