McLean County approves temporary adoption-fee changes and clears surplus animal-control vehicle

Marshall Thompson, director of McLean County Animal Services, asked the Finance Committee to approve two items July 9: (1) a resolution declaring an older, non-drivable vehicle surplus and authorizing sale via GovDeals, and (2) a temporary ordinance to amend chapter 205-32 (fees for animal adoptions) to promote adoptions and to publicize the department's new name, McLean County Animal Services.

Thompson described the 2008 vehicle as costly to repair and said the department prefers selling it as surplus so it does not have to be towed to the new facility. On adoption fees, Thompson said the temporary fee structure is intended to boost adoptions and coincide with outreach tied to the department's rebranding and move to a new facility.

Thompson also presented the monthly operations report: through June the department facilitated transfers of 131 cats and 51 dogs into partner programs, completed 25 private dog adoptions and 39 private cat adoptions (248 total pets adopted or transferred year to date), facilitated 173 rabies inoculations through June, submitted 26 bats and other species for rabies testing, and implanted 202 microchips. The department reported reuniting 95 dogs and 13 cats (108 total) with owners and highlighted volunteer and outreach events that brought community families and children to the shelter.

A committee member asked about positive rabies tests; Thompson said she did not recall any positive tests this year and offered to provide specifics at the next meeting. The committee voted to approve both the surplus declaration and the temporary ordinance amending adoption fees.