Hibbing council authorizes animal shelter RFP and moves to add microchipping to licensing rules

The Hibbing City Council on June 4 authorized staff to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for animal sheltering services and directed staff to pursue an amendment to city licensing ordinance 10.21 to require microchipping for licensed animals. The council approved both measures on separate voice votes.

Deputy Administrator Candy Seppala told the council the RFP would seek a one-year operator to provide intake and shelter services at the city’s intake building while the city evaluates a possible site purchase for a long-term facility. "At this point, we want to do a one year," Seppala said, adding that the RFP is intended to allow the city to get a contractor in place while long-term options are considered.

Seppala and council members cited increasing intake numbers and limited regional shelter capacity. Seppala said the city has been working with rescues, local veterinary partners and a technical school to provide veterinary care and that staff had prepared the RFP for council authorization. Councilor Faso made the motion to approve the RFP; Councilor Bayless seconded. The motion passed.

Councilors also voted to move forward with a change to ordinance 10.21 to add microchipping as part of licensing requirements. "We just feel that it's going to be something that's gonna give us a little less, for animals out at the shelter," Seppala said, noting that officers could carry chip readers and that microchipping helps reunite animals with owners. Staff estimated microchip reader hardware costs range from about $25 to $600 depending on equipment; staff said the council will finalize ordinance language and that attorney review and a 10-day public posting are required before a formal ordinance vote.

Council members discussed operational details: the RFP calls for sheltering at the city building for the near term, and staff emphasized a goal to move toward agreements with outside providers or a different long-term facility rather than continuing city-operated sheltering on leased land. Staff reported that last year the city handled roughly 240–243 animal intakes and that the city had received about 150 animal intakes so far in the current year, figures staff said indicate pressures on capacity.

The council approved the RFP and separately approved the directive to pursue the microchipping licensing change; language and timing for final ordinance approval will follow attorney review and the required public notice.