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Cowlitz County commissioners agree to allow part-time animal control officer access to county credit card
Summary
County finance staff requested a waiver to a policy restricting county credit cards to full‑time employees so a newly hired part‑time animal control officer can pay for after‑hours animal care and fuel. Commissioners indicated informal approval on the record.
A request from the sheriff's office to allow a part‑time animal control officer to carry a county credit card received informal approval from the Board of Commissioners during Wednesday's meeting.
Katrina, budget and finance manager for the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, told commissioners the county policy limits credit cards to full‑time employees but said the new part‑time hire will fill in for officers on vacation and work nights. "They use their credit cards on a pretty regular basis after hours," Katrina said, adding cards have a $1,500 limit.
Commissioners asked whether the card would be used for veterinary bills and for fuel when crews are out of town; Katrina confirmed both uses could occur. One commissioner responded, "I think we're fine with that, Katrina," and the board did not raise further objections.
The board did not record a formal motion or vote in the transcript. Staff noted the county's written policy still states credit cards are for full‑time employees only; the discussion on the record is the county's authorization to depart from that written policy for this specific hire.
The item will be formalized in minutes and by any necessary administrative steps to issue the card and set the $1,500 limit.
