LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)---Money is the root of the issue that brought animal supporters to the Clark County courthouse on Thursday.
With animals in hand, they wanted to make sure Clark County Commissioners understood what they say the JB Ogle animal shelter is owed.
"They owe $66,000 a year for this year and the two previous years, so a total of $198,000," says Trish Roehm, the President of the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue.
"They've paid up until 3 years ago. They stopped paying and we want to know why," says Lynda Sylvester, with the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue.
The subject came up Thursday in a county commissioners meeting. Commissioner John Perkins says they are working on the issue and that there are discussions going on between Clark County government and the city of Jeffersonville.
"They're proceeding to an agreement, and we think that will be finalized in the next 3-5 weeks," says John Perkins, a Clark County Commissioner.
With ongoing negotiations, he couldn't say much more.
Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore says it's an issue he's recently brought up numerous times.
The payments for the shelter stopped in 2009, which is when he too was a county commissioner.
"It's time the county commissioners recognize and acknowledge they have a debt to pay and that's all I'm asking them to do," says Mayor Mike Moore.
"So this was even and issue even when you were a county commissioner?" we asked.
This has been going on for the last 3 years," we asked the Mayor.
"The question of payment, yes…It's taken way to long," says Mike Moore.
He says legitimate questions have been raised about the money issue that he has taken into account, and is hoping the shelter gets the money it needs.
That's something all parties involved can agree on.
"I'm confident that calmer heads will prevail," says Mike Moore, Mayor of Jeffersonville.
"I believe that the agreement we're gonna reach will solve all those problems," says John Perkins, County Commissioner.
"It's kinda a fight back and forth between the city and county and the only thing losing out is the animals," says Trish Roehm with the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue.
Currently, the animal shelter is at capacity, with more than 200 pets.
Supporters say the shelter is working to become a No Kill Shelter by next year and the money would help to do this.
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