07.26.07
AusChron On WCRAS
The AusChron has it’s latest installment in the continuing saga of Williamson County and the animal shelter. It has more information that’s been uncovered as to what happened before the “unannounced” state inspection, Damage Control at Shelter Raises More Dander.
But the celebration was short-lived. On July 20, Austin lawyer Philip Durst, acting on behalf of Abdella, filed a grievance against the county and requested a hearing in an attempt to reverse the “terrible injustice” inflicted on his client. The filing alleges the county fired Abdella in violation of the Texas WhistleÂblower Act as well as her right to free speech. AddiÂtionÂally, former Travis Co. Judge Bill Aleshire, representing a group of animal-rights advocates, is raising doubts about whether the state’s inspection was actually “unannounced,” as county officials claimed. “The [WilCo] sheriff’s detective told [state inspector Beverlee Nix] the date and time to conduct the inspection,” Aleshire said. “This leaves open the possibility that someone from the sheriff’s office leaked notice of the inspection in time for the cleanup project to get finished before Dr. Nix arrived,” he said.
Aleshire asserts that a cleanup crew (made up of various muckety-mucks from around the county) converged on the shelter to conduct a scrubbing just one day before the inspection. According to attorney and WilCo consultant Charlie Crossfield, the informal cleanup crew included three Hutto city leaders — City Manager Ed Broussard, Assistant CM Joanie Clarke, and Council Member Debbie Holland; a trio of Round Rock officials — Assistant City Manager David Kautz and police Lt. Bob Drawbaugh and Assistant Chief Tim Ryle; and WilCo Commissioner Valerie Covey.
That’s too funny. I’d love to see the surveillance video of that. I doubt that any of them thought, when they ran for office, they’d be having to do a rush clean up of animal feces ahead of a state inspection, to cover their incompetent tracks. Ah the joys of public service.