Commissioners approve $242,000 animal shelter contract and interlocal agreements with municipalities
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Summary
County approves annual $242,000 contract with the Humane Society of Elkhart County and interlocal agreements allocating municipal shares for animal control services; city shares and town contributions were read into the record.
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 20 to approve the county’s annual contract with the Humane Society of Elkhart County for animal shelter management and animal control services at a total cost of $242,000.
County Attorney Steve Olsen summarized the contract and previewed interlocal agreements that allocate costs among municipalities: City of Elkhart $153,065; City of Goshen $93,940; Town of Middlebury $6,534; Town of Wakarusa $7,260; Town of Bristol $4,840; City of Nappanee $12,688; Town of Millersburg $1,900. Olsen said the interlocal agreements allow the Humane Society to continue serving municipal areas if individual governments agree; if a municipality declines the interlocal agreement, the county’s obligations would not extend to that jurisdiction.
Olsen said the contracting approach meets state statutory obligations that require local government response to certain animal-control incidents, including bite reporting and public-safety matters. Commissioners approved the contract and the interlocal agreements; the vote carried unanimously.
The agreements will be circulated to each municipality for signature; if all sign, the Humane Society will remain the primary contractor for countywide animal control services under the contract terms.
