After more than three years of toying with the idea of merging Vicksburg and Warren County animal control operations, Mayor Laurence Leyens said he thinks the city will have to go it alone.

&#8220As of last week, I decided that we should build our own facility and hire a retired veterinarian to run it,” Leyens said. &#8220That will allow us to euthanize our own animals and perform surgeries, like spaying and neutering.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield disagrees, saying there’s still a chance to merge and improve services.

Leyens, in office for five years, pushed the Warren County Board of Supervisors during his first term for a deal on combining city and county operations. When he did, there was no county animal control ordinance or budget.

Those talks broke off after supervisors adopted the county’s first-ever animal control law and entered a $125,000 annual contract with the Vicksburg-Warren County Humane Society to pick up strays and respond to reports of abuse or neglect.

Merger talks have bubbled in the background since, with Georgia Lynn, president and director of the Humane Society making a proposal to city officials within the last month.

A meeting was set on the topic for last Wednesday, but did not take place.

More than 10 years ago, the Vicksburg impoundment area was moved up North Washington from the city’s gas plant to Kings, near a fire station. Leyens has said it is inadequate and a new facility is needed.

&#8220We can build it near City Park, where there won’t be any problems with the noise,” he said. &#8220An operation like this is worth another $50,000 to $60,000 a year.”

The city now spends about $180,000 a year for animal control to pay two employees, buy supplies, vehicles and services. The city’s law is tighter than the county’s, requiring that all city pets be fenced in or on leashes.

The city shelter takes in about 20 animals a week, said Vicksburg Animal Control Supervisor Eldridge Skinner.

&#8220We hold the animals here for five days, sometimes longer if we think we can find it a home,” Skinner said. &#8220If we can’t find them a home, we take them to the Animal Rescue League in Jackson” where they are euthanized.

Leyens said the facility he’s proposing would eliminate the money being spent to take animals to Jackson to be destroyed, a practice started during a dispute over euthanization services here.

Lynn has said the Humane Society, now located on U.S. 61 South across from Vicksburg Municipal Airport, could add the City of Vicksburg to its responsibilities – but not without a larger facility. Her goal, she said, has been to merge the two shelters in a central location in hopes of increasing adoption rates.

In October 2004, a building at 720 Porters Chapel Road was identified as a possible location, but the idea was dropped because the building is in a residential area.

In May, the county bid $179,601 for the old Mississippi Department of Transportation maintenance headquarters on U.S. 80, but lost to another bidder who paid the state about twice as much.

Lynn said plans have been delayed a third time because the city declined to match the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ funding for the organization. The Humane Society asked for the funds in a lump sum in order to expand at its present site.

&#8220Nothing can happen until it gets bigger down there,” said Lynn. &#8220We took in 1,678 animals from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 and only adopted out 257. People don’t understand the magnitude of what’s dropped off down there.”

Lynn said her proposal letter got no answer. &#8220I never got a response,” she said. &#8220This is a business. I can’t tell the mayor to just bring his masses down here, so that I can stick them in a cage somewhere. I have to feed and water them, then there’re vet bills for the vaccinations, worming, spaying and neutering. I have four people on staff, and I also have utilities.”

Lynn said after all expenses are paid, there’s not much left of the county’s funding. She relies on donations, fundraisers and adoption fees to help operate the shelter.

Leyens said the city can’t justify giving the Humane Society $125,000 a year.

&#8220There is no rationale or basis for that number,” he said, invoking a familiar fiscal reality. &#8220I mean, 65 percent of that $125,000 from the county comes from city taxpayers. Because of that, I have even questioned the legality of the Humane Society’s excluding the city’s animals.”

Strictly speaking, because all residents pay into the county’s general fund and two-thirds of the tax base is inside the city, those who live in the city are paying two-thirds of the county’s allocation to the Humane Society. Without a better-balanced funding formula, Leyens said, city animal control will remain a separate function.

&#8220Unless she’s very compelling, I don’t think I have any other choice,” Leyens said. &#8220There’s no reason we should have to pay her that amount forever.”

Mayfield said he attempted to set up a meeting with Lynn and Leyens to come up with a process that works.

&#8220I’m just trying to get everyone to iron out their differences,” said Mayfield, a member of the county governing board when its deal was made with the Humane Society. &#8220In my opinion, this has gone on too long. The city, county and Humane Society should have come to an agreement some time ago.”

Lynn said she did not receive notice of the meeting early enough to attend. No other plans for a meeting have been made.

&#8220The city shelter needs help and the Humane Society needs help,” Mayfield continued. &#8220It’s imperative that we do something as quickly as possible to alleviate both sets of problems.”