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Lincoln County health department reports permit activity, shelter caseload and staff shortages
Summary
A health department official told commissioners the county processed 58 of 82 permit applications so far this year, issued 819 residential burn permits in the Libby area (activated 922 times), and said the animal shelter currently holds 14 dogs and 10 cats; staff shortages persist and a draft adoption-fee resolution will be posted for comment.
A health department official updated the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on permitting, burn-activity and animal-shelter operations on May 7.
"Out of the 82 applications we received, we've issued 58 permits, 24 either just received or are waiting for more information before they can be processed," the official said, summarizing this year's permitting workload. The official said the department issued 819 residential burn permits in the Libby area; those permits were activated 922 times, reflecting multiple activation days for some permit holders.
The official also described enforcement and shelter activity. "We currently have 14 dogs, 11 of which are available for adoption and 3 that are on hold, and 10 cats, 5 of which are available for adoption," the official said. Staff reported three community-decay litter violations within the 30-day period, five properties referred to the sheriff's office and four properties currently in court. Two properties could not be located.
Commissioners pressed staff on outreach and turnover: the department is posting shelter animals on the county website, taking photos at community events and transferring animals to larger regional shelters when appropriate. The official said a local nonprofit, Lincoln County Shelter Friends, is finalizing its board to support shelter operations.
On staffing, the official said the department is short-handed but had offered a position for the sanitarium role and expects a hiring decision within the week. On adoption fees, staff told the board they will draft a resolution and publish the amounts for public comment so the approval is on the public record.
The update concluded with commissioners asking for clarification where property violations occurred and for staff to circulate the draft adoption-fee resolution before it is finalized.
