Members of the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter Board voted Tuesday evening to allow the Board’s chairman to seek advice from an attorney regarding some possible legal concerns.

During the Board’s meeting on Tuesday, Chairman Mike Barnett asked his colleagues to grant him permission to consult with an attorney and the Board voted unanimously to approve his request.

“I’m looking at the missing hard drive and I’m looking at some records that are still missing,” Barnett said.

One of the other topics Barnett said he was wanting to speak with an attorney about are issues which have arisen from a recent civil lawsuit in Wise County, Virginia, which alleged the animal shelter had illegally seized two dogs and then sold them to a rescue organization. The judge presiding over that case ruled that the animals were lawfully obtained by the animal shelter and the plaintiff’s ownership was lawfully terminated.

Animal Shelter Board member Sonja Culler made a motion to allow Barnett to speak with an attorney to obtain guidance on the issues. Board member Kelly Collins provided the second for the motion.

During the discussion on the motion, Dr. Robert Acuff, who was filling in at the meeting for Board Member Buford Peters, asked if Barnett would be speaking with County Attorney Josh Hardin and City Attorney Roger Day or if he would need to consult an outside attorney. Barnett said he did not believe an outside attorney would be necessary and that Day could provide the needed guidance.

“We probably won’t use Mr. Hardin on one or two of the issues because of his Wise County involvement,” Barnett said.

The Board voted unanimously to allow Barnett to consult with an attorney.

In other business, the Board voted to approve downgraded plans for the installation of dog runs and a covering for the outdoor cat area at the shelter. In the original plans, the shelter hoped to construct 12 dog runs, but due to funding, the plan was scaled back to six dog runs.

The estimated cost for the project is $230,000, and according to shelter officials, there is approximately $229,000 remaining in the DeLawder Estate fund to put toward the project.

Animal Shelter Director Shannon Posada provided the Board with an update on HVAC repairs at the shelter. At this time, Posada said, repairs are on hold because the company needs copies of the blueprints for the HVAC system that was installed at the shelter before they can begin repair work.

“They are not willing to jump the gun and come out and do anything without first seeing those drawings,” Posada said, adding she is attempting to obtain those plans from Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey’s office.

The Board also set plans to hold a special event at the Animal Shelter on June 8 to mark the retirement of long-time employee Freddie Turner.

“He’s going to be sorely missed,” Barnett said. “He dedicated 38 years to this community.”

More details on the retirement event will be announced closer to the date of the event.