The Kankakee City Council approved an ordinance Dec. 1 adopting Kankakee County’s Chapter 10 (Animals) into the city code so the county’s animal-control contract with the city can take effect Jan. 1, pending final county action. In-house counsel said adopting the county ordinances is a required condition of the intergovernmental agreement with the county animal-control provider.

A county representative told the council that adopting the county regulations is necessary “so that the intergovernmental agreement with animal control… can be used within the city of Kankakee.” Council members moved to suspend rules and place the ordinance on final reading that night; the roll call recorded unanimous support.

City staff said the contract would be effective Jan. 1 contingent on the county passing the same ordinance at its December meeting. Council did not call for additional public hearings at the Dec. 1 meeting; the council’s action completes the city-side approval required for the agreement to proceed.