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Iroquois County animal control reviews policies, municipal fee schedules and insurance coverage
Summary
The county’s animal control staff reported shelter counts and said they are rebuilding operations, seeking to restore municipal service contracts and fee schedules; committee members were also told the county’s insurance broker indicated general coverage is in place but that animal‑specific questions remain.
Animal control staff told the Iroquois County Health Committee on July 1 that they are rebuilding shelter operations, revising policies and pursuing municipal fee agreements to recoup service costs.
Angela Freire and Jill, who presented the update, gave a snapshot of recent shelter activity and said they will share a written policy and fee recommendation with the committee for review. Committee members also heard that the county’s insurance agent indicated general liability coverage is in place for staff and facilities.
"The total deposit was $6,325. There were 3 bats and 5 bite reports," Angela Freire reported when listing recent shelter intake and incident counts. She also enumerated other intake figures during the update and said staff will email the committee a list of proposed changes to veterinarian duties and operational policies.
Freire said the animal control program is rebuilding and will look to neighboring programs to "adopt or adapt" policies rather than reinvent the wheel. That review includes agreements for a state‑mandated trap‑neuter‑release (TNR) program and clarifying how municipalities will be charged. "Most of these calls that we're getting are obviously not county calls. They're going to municipalities ... they should be getting invoiced and charged a fee for those services," she said.
On fees, Freire told the committee there is an existing fee schedule and that amounts have changed; she said the current schedule is "like, from $19.80 something" and that she will update and email precise figures to the committee.
Committee members were also briefed on insurance coverage. The chair said he had asked the county insurance representative, Myron Moneon, to review liability and coverage for the director, kennel workers and volunteers. "In a nutshell, he said, we're good. We're covered," the chair reported; the committee asked Moneon’s written notes to be circulated for members to review specific policy language and to clarify coverage for animal‑specific services such as boarding.
Freire and Jill described facility clean‑up, new flooring and improvements to doors and lighting; they said some animals are held on 10‑day holds, some are in foster care, and others have been rehomed. There was no formal committee vote; the presentation was an informational briefing and staff committed to circulate updated policy drafts and fee schedules for committee review.
