Kankakee committee reviews proposed county animal-control contract, asks for fee schedule and past bills

The Kankakee City Building and Code Safety Committee on Jan. 16 reviewed a draft intergovernmental agreement with Kankakee County Animal Control and directed staff to gather more information before the committee considers approval.

Committee members said the draft contract would cost roughly $35,000 a year — about $2,900 a month — a noticeable increase over the roughly $2,000–$2,500 monthly payments they said the city has been making. Members asked whether the higher price buys additional services and requested a complete fee schedule and two years of the city's animal-control bills to compare costs.

Members also pressed the issue of reclamation fees and how revenue is handled. Paragraph 12 of the draft agreement, read aloud during the meeting, states that reclaiming fees “shall be paid by reclaiming animal owners to Kankakee County Animal Control” and that the city “should not be assessed” kennel fees for animals reclaimed by owners. Committee members interpreted the clause to mean the county would retain owner-paid reclamation fees and noted the city currently absorbs some pickup, kennel and disposal charges when animals are not reclaimed.

Committee members described examples from the monthly billing report showing instances in which the city paid kennel and disposal fees for animals that were not reclaimed. Several members said that if reclaimed-owner fees are retained by the county, the city is effectively paying both pickup costs and, in some cases, portions of the kennel or disposal charges — a concern they described as “double payment.”

No formal vote was taken on the contract. Instead the committee asked Director Nelson to obtain the county’s current fee schedule, provide two years of the city’s animal-control invoices, and ask whether the county could apply owners’ reclaim fees to reimburse the city. The item was placed on the committee agenda for the next meeting for a full discussion.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 19 minutes: Approved by roll call (6–0, 1 absent). - Approval of December bills, $12,357.68: Approved by roll call (6–0, 1 absent). - Adjournment: Approved (voice vote).

Why it matters: Committee members said the contract would raise the city’s annual costs and that clarifying how owner payments are applied could materially change the net cost to Kankakee City. The committee requested documentation that could alter whether it proceeds with a contract or keeps the current monthly arrangement.

What happens next: Director Nelson was asked to present the county fee schedule and two years of animal-control billing at the committee’s next meeting so members can weigh the financial and operational trade-offs before any contract decision.