The Mayor is a buffoon. Why doesn't he know what is going on?

I really believe that this shelter was desperately needed. HOWEVER..the constant delays are completely ridiculous. Who approved the architect with no knowledge of building such a facility?

I would love to see our shelter do as some others do and become a 'no kill' shelter. I realize that right now it's probably impossible, but there are so many things they could do to promote adopting shelter animals and raising money. The Huntsville shelter has a thrift store that is quite profitable, why can't we do the same?

And surely there's a way to get the animals spayed/neutered at a lower cost so that adoption fees would be lower. Most people aren't going to pay the money they ask for a cat or dog when they can get them in the Daily for free. I would hate to know the percentage of animals that are killed there. I would guess at least 90% of all that are brought in, if not more.

It seems the only time people open their hearts (and wallets) for an animal is when there's a story behind them. (like Lucky-the dumpster dog) I wish the Daily would feature some of these poor shelter pets every week and maybe they could tug at a few heartstrings too.

City leaders mentality........NONE....

I still cannot fathom why prime retail property was used when the shelter would have been just as well served at Flint or some other remote location. A poor choice to say the least.

Sad thing is that a good project has turned into a joke. Future support for the new shelter will be hard to recoup. Same old story, bureaucratic bungling.

It is what it is and much has been invested at this point. Be efficient with remaining or needed funds to finish the project and let's get the facility functioning. Anything less is a waste of energy. Even though everyone should work together for resolution, I would make Ronnie Russell the spokeman for the project from this point forward.

Good going, guys, Larry, Curley and Moe could not have done it better.

COMMENT BY LYNNE: Y'all thank Ronny Russell for this. He's the one that pushed it through and to be at the location it is. Right near the active ball parks and playground. Decatur did need a new shelter, but where it's located is awful. Poor planning. There's lots of that in our city government. This is no surprise either.

$7,300.00 to remove a bar???? c'mon, I'm sure there is a city department somewhere that could do that for free.

These are the same buffoons who decided to revamp an old building for an unneeded "Art School" at a cost of millions. Watch. That project, too will take years and cost many times what was proposed.

Wake up Decatur! We're being governed by thieves and fools!!

If the project architect is Fred Underwood I now understand why this whole thing is FUBAR. He did some work for my church and it was all jacked up. It cost us way more than was budgeted to fix what he screwed up.

Everyone needs to remember that this is RRs baby... so calling the rest of the council and the mayor 'buffoons' on this deal is unfair. Let's give credit where credit is due - RR is, and has been, a total ineffecient and ineffective 'leader' for D-town since he started. Talk about a tax money wasting goof.

Anyone noticed the parking lanes at the new Jack's restaurant? What a joke.

Sanford admitted speaking to quickly? Well, Mayor, your speaking too quickly without thinking first or considering the consequences has already cost the the Citizens $93,000 and about to cost twice that. STOP speaking without thinking!!

PARKING AT JACKS???? BOY THAT REALLY PERTAINS TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER. ????