Ed Steinebach, right, general manager for Magna International’s Eagle Bend Manufacturing plant located in Clinton, announces a $10,000 donation to start an animal shelter in Anderson County. Also pictured are Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski, left, and Mayor Terry Frank, center. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
CLINTON—A total of $25,000 in donations was announced on Monday to help start an animal shelter in Anderson County.
The first donation of $10,000 was announced by Ed Steinebach, general manager for Magna International’s Eagle Bend Manufacturing plant in Clinton. Steinebach said his company is number two in the world for automotive manufacturing, and it is very important to give back to the community.
A matching donation of $10,000 was announced by Eileen Slater from her and NOAH Companion Animal Center in Marlow. Slater said it is very urgent to set up a holding facility at Blockhouse Valley Road.
The third donation of $5,000 was announced by members of S.A.R.G. (Shelter Animals Rescue Group), a nonprofit organization.
”This will supplement what we do,” Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski said before she handed over the donations to Chris Phillips, the county’s director of accounts and budgets. “This has been a long time coming.”
Earlier this year, the Anderson County Operations Committee endorsed setting up a task force to examine the possibility of an animal shelter in the county.
There has been at least some concern in Oak Ridge about the housing of animals from outside the city at the city’s animal shelter and the costs of doing so.
At the time, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has moved more toward the housing and adoption of animals, and the available contracted space for county animals has diminished.
“There have been two occasions where the Oak Ridge shelter was closed, and there are times of overcapacity in Oak Ridge when, fortunately, we were able to partner with the Roane County animal shelter to house animals,” Frank said. “Simply put, there have been times when there is just no room.”
Taking the lead on the Task Force were Frank, Biloski, and County Commissioner Theresa Scott.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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