Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > May > 21 > Entry
Humane society president: Delay ‘a comedy of errors’
Spoke this morning with Rick Fox, president of the board of Animal Friends Humane Society.
Fox summed up the past 12 to 14 months regarding delays in building Butler County’s new animal shelter like this: “This whole thing has been a true comedy of errors.”
Fox said he disagreed with Commissioner Donald Dixon’s comments in a story that appeared in Wednesday’s JournalNews. (Read that story here)
He said it wasn’t, in fact, the humane society’s “unrealistic” hopes for amenities for the new shelter. Instead, Fox said they were “just as shocked” to learn of bells and whistles added by the architect on the project, Hamilton-based Robert Treadon and Associates.
Fox said the bigger issue in the cause for the delay was miscommunication.
“I felt like they (the architect) were hearing what we said, but they weren’t listening,” Fox said. “It was like the Abbott & Costello thing, you know, ‘Who’s on first.’
“We told them, ‘This doesn’t need to be the fanciest building in the world,” Fox added. “And we sure as hell didn’t need Pella windows.”
Still, Fox said he was extremely pleased with progress made during a meeting Tuesday between Treadon, the humane society and county officials. Fox and Treadon both said they are getting closer to the $3.4 million mark on the new shelter.
Question: What do you think about the delay on the animal shelter.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Paul
May 21, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
If our leaders were not so inept this situation would be hilarious, just think we voted forthem. Will we do it again? I won.t will you?By Johnny
May 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Paul, when was Leland Gordon, Rick Fox, and Robert Treadon on the ballot, I vote every election and I don’t recall seeing their names or voting for them.By Mary
May 21, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Leland Gordon may be wonderful with animals but he’s no businessman. My experience with him… He approached me at a function, knowing I work for a car dealership. He asked me if we would be interested in donating a new car to his “cause”. I told him things were tough all over and I then suggested that he do like Goodwill and ask for a donated car from an animal lover. His response? “We don’t want an older vehicle”. I’m sorry but I’d say, in his position, he can’t be particularly choosy. I can absolutely see him changing things with little regard for the folks footing the bill for his shelter. The whole thing’s been a debacle and if it weren’t so sad, it’d be hilarious!By Debbie
May 21, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
Mary, I was at that expo with Mr. Gordon and it is a shame you representing Rose Chevrolet couldn’t offer any help. The Humane Society is trying to get a small fuel efficient car donated. They want a new or newer one so they don’t have to put repair money into the vehicle. That seems like good business sense to me. Your response to go to “Goodwill” is typical of companies who don’t want to support good non-profits. It would have been much kinder of you to say I will check our lot or check with your manager. And in regard to the building, Mr. Gordon has been reducing the features to get the price down. He actually posts updated blue prints in the shelter for us volunteers to see!By Sara
May 22, 2008 6:13 AM | Link to this
We all need to keep supporting the cause and get the shelter done. These people are running mostly off of donations and just trying to help animals.By Evan
May 22, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
In response to Mary’s posting..you are correct…Mr. Gordon is no businessman. If he were, he would be more informed about the shelter’s status, the architect’s plans and the true cause of the delays. If he is directly asked about any of these topics, he responds with a “you’ll have to call one of the commissioners”. Either the commissioners are keeping him in the dark, or he is lost in it.By Evan
May 22, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
In response to Mary’s posting..you are correct…Mr. Gordon is no businessman. If he were, he would be more informed about the shelter’s status, the architect’s plans and the true cause of the delays. If he is directly asked about any of these topics, he responds with a “you’ll have to call one of the commissioners”. Either the commissioners are keeping him in the dark, or he is lost in it.By Evan
May 22, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
In response to Mary’s posting..you are correct…Mr. Gordon is no businessman. If he were, he would be more informed about the shelter’s status, the architect’s plans and the true cause of the delays. If he is directly asked about any of these topics, he responds with a “you’ll have to call one of the commissioners”. Either the commissioners are keeping him in the dark, or he is lost in it.By Paul
May 22, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
As usual in this county it stinks. When are we going to learn? Hopefully before the next election.By Paul
May 22, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Johnny, How did they get where they are, by osmosis> Of course not all are elected but those elected run the show (comedy).By Fran
May 24, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
Wow, I am positive; I won’t go to Rose Chevrolet. I will be sure to tell others the same. Mary, it is Leland’s passion to help the animals. Companies like yours, turn the other cheek because there is nothing in it for them. Remember this is a non profit organization. I think Leland has done a wonderfully outstanding job at the shelter. It has come a long way from where it was prior to Leland. I think Rick Fox and the other board member, who do not get paid by the way, care more then people know. Leland has done so much for the shelter by not being afraid to ask companies and people to donate to the shelter. Everyone needs to ask themselves, when was the last time “I” did something good, for nothing. Not many can say they did, yet they think they have an opinion on this matter….By Fran
May 24, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Wow, I am positive; I won’t go to Rose Chevrolet. I will be sure to tell others the same. Mary, it is Leland’s passion to help the animals. Companies like yours, turn the other cheek because there is nothing in it for them. Remember this is a non profit organization. I think Leland has done a wonderfully outstanding job at the shelter. It has come a long way from where it was prior to Leland. I think Rick Fox and the other board member, who do not get paid by the way, care more then people know. Leland has done so much for the shelter by not being afraid to ask companies and people to donate to the shelter. Everyone needs to ask themselves, when was the last time “I” did something good, for nothing. Not many can say they did, yet they think they have an opinion on this matter….By evan
May 27, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
In response to Fran’s comments…Have you personally ever heard “how” Leland Gordan asks for something? His “style” of asking needs some major work. He is no diplomat. I am very aware of his “techniques”. There are plenty of businesses that would want to help the shelter more than they do, but it is all in the “style” of the asking. Hopefully, the next director will have the right amount of finesse and common sense.