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Hibbing Council approves temporary animal shelter staff, directs RFP for long-term solution
Summary
City administrator Greg told the council the city will run animal intake internally for up to six months, the council approved a job description and provisional hires for two pound attendants, and directed staff to issue an RFP to seek a long-term operator or buyer for the shelter building.
Hibbing City Council approved immediate, temporary staffing and directed city staff to issue a request for proposals for a longer-term animal control solution after an extended discussion on Feb. 19.
City administrator Greg said the city will run intake and pound services internally and asked permission to formalize a job description for a “dog pound attendant” and hire two temporary attendants. The council approved the job description and the hiring of Travis Madich and Melissa Makala “pending successful pre-employment contingencies,” by voice vote.
Greg told the council the short-term, internal arrangement is expected to last about six months while staff develops and issues an RFP for a long-term operator or other solution. “If I felt lucky today, I would say about 6 months,” he said. He added the city currently owns the shelter building and will not seek additional operating funds for the temporary plan.
Councilors asked whether stray animals receive veterinary examinations while in city custody; Greg and other staff said the city has not been providing routine veterinary exams for strays and is not required to do so under the statute governing intake. Staff noted partners such as Precious Paws and other regional shelters sometimes accept animals (sometimes for a fee and sometimes gratis), and advised any receiving organization should be told animals are taken “as is.”
On long-term options, Greg set out four possibilities: do nothing; divest the building; continue internal operations with more staff; or issue an RFP to identify an external operator. Council members generally supported issuing an RFP to establish whether there is third-party interest and to clarify terms if the city keeps ownership or sells the property. Staff said they will circulate an RFP draft at the next meeting and allow approximately 30 days for responses.
The council recorded no public forum speakers on the issue at this meeting. The short-term hiring and the RFP direction were approved by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
