Commission seeks formal MOU with municipalities on animal-control calls and fees

Harrison County animal-control staff asked the commission on May 7 to develop formal agreements with area municipalities to clarify roles, after-hours coverage and fees.

Staff reported that Clarksburg currently has its own animal-control officer but that the city’s officer now works weekdays only; the county has been filling after-hours calls. Animal-control leaders said they maintain an on-call rotation for weekends and after-hours incidents but seek a county-level memorandum of understanding (MOU) so expectations and reimbursement for overtime are clear.

County attorney recommended inviting all municipalities to negotiate a mutual-aid style agreement that would set consistent rules — for example, which jurisdiction is first due to respond, when the county will step in, and how municipalities will reimburse county overtime and boarding or euthanasia costs. Staff noted fee adjustments approved earlier in the year (boarding and euthanasia fees were discussed and updated) and said municipalities currently pay less under the new fee structure because euthanasia is performed less frequently than in the past.

Discussion vs. decision: commissioners directed staff to draft a proposed MOU and meet with municipal representatives — the commission did not impose new fees at the meeting but emphasized the need for written agreements and clarified expectations for after-hours emergency responses.

Ending: County staff will prepare a draft MOU and schedule meetings with municipal officials; commissioners said they want uniform treatment across jurisdictions and clarity on cost-sharing for after-hours calls.