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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept, with gratitude, a donation of $98,559.34 from The Allan G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson Living Trust for restricted use to the County of El Dorado Pet Aid Fund, to support efforts by the HHSA Animal Services Program;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Accounting and Proposed Distribution documents (attachment A), provided by Ellerman Strand Law Offices to HHSA, on behalf of the Beneficiaries of The Allan G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson Living Trust, in order for HHSA Animal Services Program to accept and receive the donation, which were approved by County Counsel and verified by HHSA Fiscal Management; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or Chief Assistant Director, to execute further document(s), related to this donation, on behalf of the Animal Services Program.
FUNDING: 100% Donation received from The Allan G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson Living Trust.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On January 19, 2024, Ellerman Strand Law Offices (Ellerman Strand Law) notified HHSA Animal Services of a restricted donation of $98,559.34, with the donation provided from The Allan G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson Living Trust, for the specific use to the County’s Pet Aid Fund. HHSA Animal Services was identified as a Charitable Organization to receive one-third of the Charitable Share of the Allan G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson Living Trust.
In order to accept this donation, HHSA was instructed by Ellerman Strand Law to review provided Accounting and Proposed Distribution documents (Attachment A), which included: 1) Receipts and disbursements from the Trust from the date of death through August 31, 2023; 2) Summary of Account of the Trust; and 3) Waiver of objections to the accounting. Further, HHSA was notified in that correspondence, that the Trust requires a signature on the Waiver of Objections to Accounting and Consent to Proposed Distribution forms. The Waiver of Objections is an acknowledgement that HHSA approves of the accounting and proposed distribution of the Trust.
Subsequently, on March 15, 2024, HHSA’s Fiscal Manager assigned to Animal Services performed a review of these forms and approved the accounting and proposed distribution of the Trust and approved the proposed distribution of funds. County Counsel also approved these documents and provided recommendation for Board approval. In signing this form, Chair, on behalf of County, agrees to waive objections to the accountings, to the actions of the Trustee and transactions reflected in the accountings and waives rights to obtain a court review of the accounts and the acts of the Trustee. The Consent to Proposed Distribution Form acknowledges that HHSA has reviewed the Proposed Distribution Schedule and consents to the distributions as set forth in the schedule; in signing this form, Chair, on behalf of County also agrees to waive any rights to object to the proposed distributions and requests that Trustee proceed with the distributions as soon as possible.
As mandated by the State of California, Animal Services is responsible for taking in stray animals and providing rabies control, pursuant to El Dorado County Ordinance Title 6, Section 6.08.011. This donation, if accepted by the Board, will be deposited into the Pet Aid Fund to support the operations of HHSA Animal Services across both slopes of El Dorado County and to support the care needed to improve the adoptability of animals.
With Board approval, HHSA Animal Services will gratefully accept this donation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could direct HHSA to decline the donation. Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, HHSA would continue to provide required services to animals and the community, however, would require more use of General Fund to support the required activities.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
None
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This donation will help defray the cost of providing veterinary treatment and supplies to facilitate making treatable animals adoptable as needed.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on the attached Waiver of Objections to Accounting and Consent to Proposed Distribution Forms; and
2) Clerk of the Board to return one signed copy of the executed Waiver of Objections to Accounting and Consent to Proposed Distribution Forms to HHSA via email to hhsa-contracts@edcgov.us.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director