By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

Vanessa Cowie has indicated her desire to submit her resignation as Salina Animal Services manager.

That information was revealed during the open portion of a special Salina City Commission meeting Tuesday evening, one day before Cowie was scheduled to have a hearing with Interim City Manager Mike Schrage concerning her being placed on paid administrative leave pending dismissal.

As a handful of Cowie supporters, city employees, and other interested persons looked on, Mayor Karl Ryan called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Tuesday. After the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence, Commissioner Mike Hoppock moved that the commission go into executive session for 45 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.

The commissioners and Interim City Manager Mike Schrage then adjourned to the smaller, more private meeting room adjacent to the main commission meeting room. At times, raised voices could be heard coming from the executive session.

After 45 minutes, the commissioners and Schrage returned to the main meeting room, only to adjourn for a 15 minute break.

Once the break was over, the commissioners and Schrage went back into executive session for another 20 minutes.

Upon their return to the regular meeting, Schrage noted that on Monday, he was contacted by Cowie and her representative indicating Cowie’s interest in submitting her resignation “with some requests associated with that. One of those requests was beyond my authority in terms of the personnel policy and specifically that is to grant her accrued sick leave to her which would amount to 99 hours. So I have the authority to accept her resignation but for that one provision which is what necessitated me to bring that issue to you for your consideration.”

“If you indicate that that is acceptable to you, then we can proceed with her request,” Schrage added.

Ryan then asked for a motion on the request. Commissioner Trent Davis moved that Schrage be given the authority to deviate from the city personnel policy by providing Cowie with 99 hours of accrued sick leave.

Before the commissioners voted on the motion, Commissioner Melissa Rose Hodges said that “this is going to be the most reluctant vote that I ever vote ‘aye’ to. If it hadn’t been for Vanessa initiating this request, and I’m trying to be respectful of what her wishes are, this in no way is any indication of the high esteem that I hold Vanessa Cowie in and the work that she and her staff and her volunteers have done for Salina Animal Services. But I just want all of you to know that it’s the worst vote I’ve ever cast and I’m really, really sad that we got to this point”

The commissioners then voted 5-0 to approve the motion to grant Cowie the 99 hours of sick leave that she had accrued. The commission then voted to adjourn the meeting.

Afterward, Maggie Gillam, an animal shelter volunteer and staunch supporter of Cowie told Salina Post:

“Losing Vanessa as the shelter director is a devastating loss for Salina and for the animal community. Her leadership was top notch and her drive to make Salina a better place will be greatly missed. I can’t blame her for leaving, and I am disappointed that it had to get to this point. She is a passionate individual who truly cares about animals and about her staff. Wherever she goes she will be successful and Salina will be missing out.”

Nicole Krob, who at each of the last few commission meetings spoke on behalf of Cowie during the citizens forum portion of the meetings, told Salina Post:

“It’s very disheartening that the city let this get as far as it did and we let an amazing person go. I know that no matter where Vanessa goes she is going to be just as great there as she was for us. I wish her nothing but success in her new position.”

Cowie was placed on paid administrative leave August 15 for reasons that are officially unknown to the public. While city officials declined to elaborate beyond  it being a personnel matter, Cowie supporters consistently have indicated that they believe the issue is that Cowie’s supervisors in the Salina Parks and Recreation Department called for her dismissal because she was a strong-willed woman who dared to stand up to them for what she believed was best for the shelter, its employees, and the welfare of animals.