The Waynesboro City Commission met in regular session on Monday, February 13, 2023 at City Hall in Waynesboro. All commissioners were in attendance, including Mayor Jeff Davis, Vice Mayor Lynn Warren, Commissioner Chris Bevis, Commissioner Jeff Howell, and Commissioner Tony Creasy. Also in attendance were City Manager John Hickman, City Attorney Josh Polk, and City Recorder Paige Jackson.
Mayor Davis called the meeting to order, and Commissioner Creasy offered the invocation.
First on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous commission meeting. Commissioner Creasy made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Bevis seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved.
City Manager Hickman distributed cash collateral statements and monthly investment reports to the commissioners for their review.
With no items of new business on the agenda, the meeting went directly to “Citizens to Address the Commission.” A resident was present who received a letter the week before in regard to her property needing to be cleaned up. Mayor Davis assured her that she was not being singled out, and that others had been mailed letters as well. Police Chief Walter Smith confirmed that citizens are responsible for cleaning up their property within 14 days of receiving a warning letter or they will be issued a citation. Citations issued in the past have cost an average of $163.75 to be settled. The lady in attendance agreed that she would comply with the warning letter within the following week.
Amanda VanFleet and Leanna Plunkett of Country Road Animal Rescue were next to address the commission. VanFleet began with a brief history of their animal rescue, stating that they officially started the nonprofit organization in 2014. She said that she and Angel Shelton began by fostering animals in their homes, which they continued to do until they purchased the building where they are now located.
The building which houses the rescue is a former auto repair shop located on Highway 64 West. There are many homes in the area of the rescue, including on both sides and across the street. VanFleet said that the only complaints they have received about the rescue are from the next door neighbors, a couple who moved back to Waynesboro from Columbia after their retirement.
The couple and their sons were present at the last City Commission meeting and voiced their complaints about the animal rescue to the commission. Their primary concern seemed to be that the dogs woke them between 5 and 6am every morning when volunteers came to clean the kennels and feed. Mr. and Mrs. Russell said that the barking of the dogs had become unbearable for them, especially at that time in the morning. Amanda VanFleet said that prior to that commission meeting, the Russells had not personally addressed any issue with her or any of the other volunteers about the dogs. The Russells were advised by City Attorney Polk at the prior commission meeting to call the police and file a nuisance complaint when the dogs were barking and causing a problem, which according to VanFleet, they did in the following days.
Mrs. VanFleet went on to reiterate that none of the other neighbors had contacted them regarding any issue with the rescue facility. She said that once she was made aware of the Russells’ complaints, she had made steps toward rectifying the problem, including waiting until later in the morning to clean the kennels and moving the outdoor kennels further away from the property line. She said that she would even be willing to install a fence with noise-proof material if the neighbors wish. VanFleet went on to say that she would even be willing to sell the building to the Russells if that would resolve the situation.
Mayor Davis and other members of the commission told Mrs. VanFleet and Mrs. Plunkett that they were very appreciative of the work that Country Road Animal Rescue does, and that the city is not “taking sides” in any way. Mayor Davis said that the city is willing to work with all parties involved to come up with a peaceful resolution to the problem.
With no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned.
