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The shelter has been run by the county for years. Until this June 16 vote, the land and building under it belonged to the city.
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Resolution 26-433 as adopted. The county had operated the shelter on land the City of Ithaca owned. Source: Gratiot County.
ITHACA — Gratiot County commissioners voted 5-0 on June 16 to buy the county Animal Shelter’s building and roughly five acres of land at 2675 W. Washington Road for up to $138,703 — property the county has long operated on but did not own.
What the record shows. Resolution 26-433 states that the Animal Shelter, located in Newark Township on parcel 08-003-07-00, “is owned by the City of Ithaca,” and that the city “has offered to sell the animal shelter building and approximately five acres to Gratiot County.” The resolution says county officials inspected the building, found it in good condition, and independently confirmed its appraised value before the vote.
Commissioner George Bailey moved to approve the purchase; Commissioner Steve Sopocy seconded. The roll call, according to the signed resolution: Gay, Sopocy, Bailey, Bunting and Owens voting yes, none opposed. The resolution authorizes County Administrator Tim Dolehanty to sign the purchase agreement, subject to review by the county attorney, and directs the county’s finance director to make the budget adjustments the purchase requires. Minutes from the meeting say the money comes from the general fund’s fund balance.
What isn’t in the record. The resolution does not say how long the county has operated the shelter on land it did not own, what lease or use arrangement, if any, existed before the purchase, or how the $138,703 price was set beyond the reference to an independent appraisal. We have not obtained that appraisal, the purchase agreement itself, or any prior lease. The county has not been asked for those records; a request is planned.
