Animal control

Fayette County Board members on Tuesday approved a new animal control ordinance, understanding that there may be some changes down the road.
And they learned that, as of this time, that the county will have to take some animal control action before the end of the year or face a daily fine.
The ordinance “put us in line with state statutes as far as registration, but it doesn’t do anything about as far as having a kennel, an administrator or a warden,” said board member Merrell Collins, who heads up an animal control  subcommittee.
The five-page ordinance calls for the county board chairman to appoint, with the consent of the board, an animal control administrator to oversee the program.
It also includes registration fees of $5 and $15 per year for altered and unaltered animals, respectively, and three-year fees of $12.50 and $37.50.
Collins told the board that as the current contract expires with Dr. Connie Heaton, the county is being required to have an administrator and warden by Jan. 1.
If it does not, he said, the Illinois Department of Agriculture can fine issue a fine of $2,500 for the first day and $1,000 a day from that point until the situation is resolved.
As far as going forward, Collins said that he has recently talked to Heaton about her involvement.
He said he spoke with her about problems in the past and about her providing a kennel for the county’s animal control program.
Collins said she has the only kennel in the county that’s approved by the state, and that the state is willing to provide plans for the construction of a kennel.
The estimated cost of such a kennel, he said, is $200,000-250,000.
About Heaton’s service in the past, Collins said, “For all of the issues brought up, and there are many, she signed a bad contract.”
The county has allotted $58,000 for animal control in past years, and that’s not a sufficient amount to properly run such a program, Collins said.
He said the budgets in nearby counties run $120,000-$150,000, with those amounts covering only wages. All other expenses are handled through donations, Collins said.
Those counties provide no-kill facilities, and Fayette County doesn’t have the funds to do that, he said.
Collins said the salaries of an administrator and warden alone would be $57,000.
“I’m willing to look at anything and everything,” Collins said.
He estimates that $15,000 would be generated annually through registration fees, and said that amount would have to be “blended into” the budgeted amount.
“What I have pledged to do, to the county board and the county, is find some way to make this work,” Collins said.
It can be done, he said, if someone can come up with a way to get additional funds for the project.
Chairman Jeff Beckman asked whether it might be possible to work with another county. “Possibly,” Collins said. “Some counties share responsibilities.”
Bryce Kistler, the only board member to vote against the ordinance, asked whether the city of Vandalia is still receiving the service, since it recently decided to hold the county’s bill for the last quarter.
Beckman asked Bruce DeLashmit of Bellwether, the county’s administrative consultant, whether the county could provide the service only in unincorporated areas if municipalities choose to not pay their share, which is based on population.
It could, DeLashmit said, later in the meeting adding that if the county does not receive payment, it could put the animal control issue on the municipalities.
Collins said that Heaton recently had surgery and added, “I’d be surprised if any calls were answered. It’s not a good situation.”
Near the end of the discussion, the issue of not being in compliance with the state by Jan. 1, Beckman asked DeLashmit to approach the state Department of Agriculture about getting an allowance as the county tries to work through the various issues.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
• The board approved an agreement through which the Fayette County Health Department will continue to provide a solid waste coordinator for the county.
Through the agreement, the county pays the health department $1,500 per quarter.
• The board approved the low bid of $638,098 from Depew & Owen Builders of Centralia for the replacement of a bridge 4½ miles west of Vandalia on County Road 1550N in Bear Grove Township.
• Board members Jake Harris, Kistler and Keith Cole agreed to be appointed to the county’s new public building commission.
The plans are to fill the commission with three other individuals, including a contractor and an engineer.
DeLashmit said that former board member Chad Austin had previously said that he would chair the commission.