Commissioners set to approve $156K contract on Monday 

 

COLUMBUS—With no county humane society for stray animals, the Polk County Board of Commissioners is set to approve an annual contract with the Foothills Humane Society next week.  

The contract is for $13,032 per month, or $156,380 per year.  

During the county’s most recent meeting, commissioners heard from county manager Marche Pittman about the contract.  

Pittman said he met with Foothills recently and compiled a draft contract and the money is included in the new budget, which began July 1.  

“We don’t have an animal shelter,” Pittman said. “We contract with Foothills for that.”  

The agreement between the county and Foothills states that the county has an animal control ordinance that requires the impounding and boarding of certain animals and does not currently have adequate facilities or the manpower to provide impoundment and boarding of animals.  

Foothills Humane Society has been providing the services to the county for several years, with a new contract approved annually.  

The county’s responsibilities in the draft contract include that the county will deliver only cats and dogs to the humane society and that the county shall call and notify Foothills when space is needed.  

The county shall submit to Foothills an animal control release form for each animal delivered and the county shall not deliver any cats or dogs to Foothills known to be contagious or who appear to require urgent veterinary care.  

The county will also inform Foothills of any animals it deems or suspects to be dangerous. The county will also seek restitution from animal owners for impoundments due to suspected cruelty or bites and shall remit the restitution to Foothills.  

“In addition to the impoundment fees restitution provided herein above, county shall pay to Foothills the sum of $13,031.67 per month,” states the draft agreement. “Thereafter, should Foothills deem it necessary (to) have its monthly compensation rate adjusted, the parties shall meet during the county’s budget calendar and shall make good faith efforts to negotiate the rate of compensation for the next fiscal year.”  

According to the draft agreement, Foothills will be responsible for accepting stray or abandoned dogs and cat from the county animal control officers or their designees and to provide adequate facilities to house the animals.  

Foothills shall also provide a minimum of four dog kennels and four cat cages for the impoundment of animals during cruelty investigations or bite cages.  

Foothills will house dogs and cats a minimum of 72 hours unless reclaimed sooner by their owners and in cases of animal cruelty investigations or dog bites, Foothills shall provide the first three days of animal impoundment at no additional charge to the county.  

Commissioners are scheduled to meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus.