Hibbing resident urges action after state suspends animal shelter license; council refers matter to staff

Anthony Polari told the Hibbing City Council on Dec. 18 that the state has visited the municipal animal shelter and removed its license and that he has received limited response from elected officials. "Of the 13 emails I sent out, 4 responded. That's 30%," Polari said during the public forum, asking what the council planned to do moving forward.

Polari outlined what he described as the city's financial support for the shelter, saying the city provides about $103,000 annually for operations and related costs. He asked whether the city has a contract with the regional animal organization that operates the shelter and whether that arrangement provides adequate accountability of taxpayer funds.

A city representative responded that the city owns the shelter building but does not operate the shelter. "It is the 501 C 3 that actually runs the shelter," the mayor said, and the independent nonprofit will have to address the issues raised by the state. The city confirmed it provides building ownership and some funding but said oversight of licensing and operational compliance resides with the nonprofit and state regulators.

Councilors did not take any enforcement action at the meeting. The mayor said the council has referred the property and shelter situation to city staff to research and report back; no final decision was made at the Dec. 18 meeting.

The referral leaves open how much the city will change its relationship with the nonprofit operator, whether contract terms will be renegotiated, and what timeline state regulators have set for license reinstatement or corrective action.