The Fayette County Commission voted to create a county employee position — shelter coordinator — to oversee operations at the county animal shelter, implement policy updates, set fees, manage volunteers and run a previously authorized spay/neuter program.

Commissioners described winter maintenance problems at the shelter, including frozen pipes, and said the coordinator would be responsible for routine facility upkeep and for liaising with rescue organizations and the humane society. “That person will be responsible for ensuring that, you know, the maintenance is done and, that things were done to keep the pipes from freezing,” a commissioner said while explaining the proposal.

The coordinator role, as described at the meeting, will not replace existing shelter staff but will act as a liaison between the commission and shelter personnel, manage the county’s spay/neuter program funding, coordinate certified payroll reimbursements to the humane society and oversee the shelter’s public presence, including social media postings for adoptable animals.

A motion to create the position passed on a voice vote after a commissioner moved and another seconded. Commissioners said the new employee would coordinate with the town administrator and the humane society and would work on volunteer recruitment and scheduling at the shelter. No salary or classification details were adopted on the floor; commissioners agreed to create the position and directed staff to follow up on implementation details.