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Riley County counselor urges MOU with city over animal shelter as city retains ordinance control
Summary
County Counselor Jacob Hansen told commissioners the city’s animal-control agreement and ordinance indicate the city will retain control of the shelter; he recommended negotiating an MOU to define facility and equipment responsibilities before the county enters into an agreement.
County Counselor Jacob Hansen told the Riley County Commission on Dec. 15 that the city’s animal-control services agreement and existing city ordinance make clear the city intends to retain control of the animal shelter. Hansen said the county’s interest is to clarify obligations and protect county interests before entering a county-level agreement.
Hansen said the county may ask for an MOU with the city to add conditions that would require the city to maintain the shelter and, if real property or facility obligations were transferred, ensure transfer of ownership would be explicit. "They do make it clear that they intend on keeping control entire control over the animal shelter itself," he said, and recommended discussing these concerns with the city attorney and seeking legal options should the city amend its ordinance.
Commissioners raised practical questions about jurisdiction (the shelter is not in Riley County limits) and about what the county would be obliged to provide by statute should the city change its stance. Hansen said his plan for conversations with the city would include (1) seeking an MOU to add operational commitments, (2) ensuring personal property versus real property distinctions are clear, and (3) clarifying what statutory facility obligations would apply if the city chose to transfer or cease shelter operations. No formal vote on an MOU was taken at the meeting; Hansen said he would follow up with the city attorney.
