PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING MINUTES
8 APRIL 2026
The Giles County Government Commission Public Safety Meeting met on 8 April 2026 at the Giles Animal Shelter. Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour opened the meeting asking Commissioner Roger Reedy to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The Minutes of 12 January 2026 were moved for approval by Commissioner Terry Jones, seconded by Rick Carpenter, and were approved with the following corrections: change word “advocated” to “abdicated” in the partial sentence “and the management of the co-owned airport was abdicated to the city”; and correct Commissioner Rick Carpenter’s name. The Chair then asked County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe for any announcements. The CE thanked Jaclyn Payne for her work as Director of the Animal Shelter, noting she is asked to do more than her staffing allows, and that the County rarely has long-term continuity in the position because of lengthy, uncompensated work and unsatisfactory staffing. He said the Commission must consider one of two options; either provide additional staff to sustain existing services, or cut back on public services and opening hours. Director Payne provided a handout for the commissioners’ review showing the increased demand statistically as well as providing clarification on the shelter’s various roles. Those being: a public safety resource, a disease control point, a community service provider, and a population control solution. Director Payne expanded on all roles and offered all commissioners the opportunity to walk through the shelter. The CE noted that past emphasis has been on the building but a solution was now forthcoming, with an expected bid on a new building in the July/August timeframe; he again noted this meeting was to address staffing needs. Director Payne discussed the differences between a “dog pound” and a shelter, explaining a dog pound usually holds stray animals for a specific period, and may euthanize animals at that time, where a shelter typically strives to save every healthy or treatable animal, and rehome those animals. She mentioned food donations that allow a food pantry for owners who may not be able to afford all the cost for their pets and at no cost to the county. She also mentioned vaccines (under a grant) which help control any diseases brought into the shelter and microchips done free. The Chair discussed the traffic egress to the old building and the new location which will offer better egress. Director Payne also mentioned using the current building as storage, mentioning new kennels donated from the Columbia shelter with no cost to the county. The Chair mentioned the network of foster homes with Director Payne mentioning the volunteer who helps with foster care administration and social media. Commissioner Rick Carpenter mentioned a local association who might assist with Director Payne stating she thought they were not in business anymore. Commissioner Carpenter asked about the use of inmates with the Director saying that had been tried but had considerable obstacles. She mentioned the inmates have to be trained, watched and especially noting the environment with vaccine and needles is not conducive to their best interests. She said they do use inmates to mow the yard but they also use volunteers. Commissioner Terry Jones mentioned the paradox of supporting the shelter and having several rescue animals himself, but also concerns about raising taxes on people for additional staffing as well as another issue of other department heads also needing additional staffing. The Chair on clarification asked if this would be part of the budget process with the CE answering yes. Commissioner Gayle Jones asked about the new road and if would join the current area with Director Payne and the CE both saying not enough funding to do that; the current gate will be closed and more of a pathway to the current location (which will be used for storage). Several volunteers at this time spoke on a great improvement in the shelter services over the last few years and when Commissioner Gayle Jones mentioned a recent complaint on a stray dog being found and then turned away from the shelter, Director Payne said it is a space problem. She mentioned some are put on a waiting list and even those that “foster to surrender” are provided with a temporary kennel. Even that type of complaint is complex in that some people “find” a dog that they are tired of keeping, or even someone else’s dog is on their territory, according to one of the volunteers. Commissioner David Adams asked about leash laws with the Chair saying city or county, the animals can’t be roaming on other people’s property and the Director noting that working dogs, such as a blue healer, are not covered by leash laws.
Members were then invited to tour the facility.
Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Terry Jones, seconded by Commissioner Joyce Woodard, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee – Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour, Commissioners Terry Jones, Roger Reedy, Annelle Guthrie,