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Commissioners direct staff to draft animal-control contract with Humane Society; set parameters for emergency callouts
Summary
After months of discussion, the commission asked staff to draft a two-year contract for animal-control services from a Humane Society provider, with sheriff oversight, a proposed annual cost of about $175,000 and a temporary cap on emergency weekend callouts.
Mason County commissioners on March 24 gave direction to staff to draft a contract with a Humane Society provider to supply animal-control services, and they agreed preliminary parameters the board said should be included in that draft.
County staff told commissioners the provider agreed to begin service by hiring two additional staff dedicated to Mason County and requested an initial two‑year contract so the new hires could be retained and trained. Staff also said the provider proposed an annual contract value of about $175,000.
To limit open-ended emergency spending while the program is new, commissioners asked staff to build a cap into the draft contract for weekend emergency callouts. County staff said the provider quoted an emergency-callout rate of $17.50 per event; commissioners directed that the draft include a maximum of five emergency callouts billed at that rate without prior commission approval, and that sheriff's office judgement be used to authorize such weekend callouts.
“...if we did do that, I think we should put a max on it or 5 of them. And I think it should come directly out of the sheriff's budget because he'd be the 1 calling for the emergency call out,” a commissioner said, explaining the case for a controlled pilot arrangement. Commissioners and staff agreed the county’s general fund would ultimately carry the contract and that the agreement should be reviewed by the county attorney and risk management before final approval.
Staff also noted the provider had flagged operational details to resolve — including how impounded animals, legal proceedings and records would be handled and charged — and commissioners asked that staff include those operational and liability terms in the draft contract.
(ending) The commission did not sign a contract at the March 24 briefing; it directed staff to obtain a written draft, coordinate review with risk and legal counsel, and return the draft to the full board for approval. Commissioners also asked staff to share the draft with other local stakeholders before final action.
