County staff: humane-society shelter owes $105,826 in utilities; nonprofit seeks $5,000/month repayment plan

County staff reported that a lease with the Humane Society for Greater Lafayette required the nonprofit to assume utilities but that the accounts were never transferred, leaving the county with accrued utility and monitoring costs of $105,826.38 covering July 2024 through the transfer date.

Tom (county staff) said the figure includes water, sewage, electric, gas and camera-monitoring costs and that the shelter is a fledgling nonprofit with a short operating history at the facility. Staff said the shelter requested a repayment plan of $5,000 per month — roughly 21 months — because a lump-sum payment would create hardship for the organization. "They are asking for a payment plan in the form of $5,000 a month. It'll take approximately 21 months to repay the county," Tom said.

Council members asked for documentation of required insurance coverages listed in the lease (general liability, property, workers' compensation, professional liability and auto) and for clarity on which utilities and monitoring fees are the shelter's responsibility. One councilor noted the lease also specifies a nominal $1-per-year rent and asked staff to confirm compliance with that and other lease terms.

Staff said utilities have been or are being transferred into the shelter's name and recommended codifying any repayment terms in a written agreement with the commissioners, since the lease is with the commissioners rather than the council. Council did not vote on an appropriation but directed staff to produce the insurance documents, finalize the transfer, and draft a repayment agreement for the next meetings.

What happens next: county staff will provide the council (and commissioners) with copies of the insurance certificates required by the lease, confirm the final accounting for utilities through the transfer, and return with a proposed written repayment plan for approval by the responsible body.