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Mayor, council move to fund animal-control technician and form shelter committee
Summary
The mayor proposed three animal-shelter actions to be included in the FY2026 budget: a full‑time animal-control technician, an immediate set of three prioritized shelter improvements with staff estimates, and a citizen committee to raise funds and plan for a permanent shelter.
At the study session Mayor (unnamed in transcript) outlined a three-part plan to strengthen North Augusta’s animal-control operations and shelter services. The initiative is tied to the FY2026 budget and seeks immediate and longer-term steps.
First, the administration proposed a full-time animal-control technician (not a sworn public-safety officer) to expand shelter coverage — including weekends — and to coordinate volunteers and adoptions. Clifford said the role will be budgeted and voted on as part of the overall budget process.
Second, the mayor asked Tyler (department staff), the chief and other public-safety leaders to meet and identify three priority improvements at the existing shelter within 30–45 days, get cost estimates, and return recommendations to council. Staff said any resulting projects would either be handled by the administration or brought back as council items, depending on scope.
Third, the city will create a citizen committee under the Public Safety Foundation (members must live in city limits) to lead short-term fundraising for shelter needs and to explore long-term options for a permanent shelter; the committee’s composition would include public-safety, council, veterinary and two at-large citizen representatives.
Councilmembers expressed broad support, noting the plan is intended to be a step toward a larger, permanent solution and that construction or major capital work would still take years.
