Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Animals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff, prosecutor ask board to authorize hearing-examiner role for dangerous-dog appeals; cities invited for joint sheltering RFP
Summary
Cowlitz County sheriff and prosecutor recommended amending the county ordinance to let the hearing examiner decide dangerous- and potentially dangerous-dog appeals and sought permission to join Longview-led talks on a joint animal-sheltering interlocal agreement and RFP; board signaled consent to proceed and to draft ordinance language.
Cowlitz County Sheriff Matt Bridal Thurman and a prosecutor’s office representative briefed the Board of Commissioners on April 8 and urged the board to amend county code so the county hearing examiner can preside over appeals for dangerous- and potentially dangerous-dog determinations.
“We discussed [the hearing examiner] would be willing to do Zoom hearings or in-person hearings,” Bridal Thurman said, summarizing a follow-up conversation with the county hearing examiner, Mark Scheibmeyer, and describing his willingness to take on the animal cases under the existing agreement. The sheriff’s office and the prosecutor’s office recommended an amendment to include dangerous-animal appeals under the examiner’s duties.
Why it matters: Hearing decisions can carry subsequent criminal consequences once an animal is declared dangerous. The sheriff’s office and prosecutor’s office said in-person hearings can enhance perceived fairness and due process; the hearing examiner noted in-person hearings increase travel costs and time.
Board direction and contract considerations: Commissioners discussed the hearing examiner’s existing $20,000 annual cap in his contract (about an 80-hour estimate at $250 an hour). County attorneys and the sheriff said the examiner has not come close to that cap in recent years and that an addendum or modest contract adjustment could be used later if workload unexpectedly increases. The commissioners agreed to amend the ordinance to permit a hearing examiner to handle dangerous-animal appeals; one commissioner said, “Just add the language for the dangerous animals,” and staff agreed to prepare ordinance language.
Sheltering and interlocal agreement: Sheriff Bridal Thurman also updated the board on recent meetings with Longview and Kelso regarding animal sheltering. Longview will lead a proposed interlocal agreement and a joint request for proposals (RFP) for animal-sheltering services; the sheriff asked county staff to participate in discussions and help draft specifications. Commissioners signaled support: one commissioner said, “I’m good with it,” and staff agreed to engage with Longview and other cities to pursue a shared RFP and ILA.
Operational points: Officials estimated the county receives roughly five dangerous-animal cases a year that would trigger the hearing process; they noted hearings could be consolidated into specific days to limit travel and cost. The hearing examiner indicated he could hear multiple cases on one day and suggested combining cases where feasible to reduce travel and expense.
What’s next: Staff will draft the ordinance amendment permitting the hearing examiner to hear dangerous-animal appeals and will continue discussions with Longview and participating cities to develop an ILA and RFP for animal-sheltering services.
