Levy County approves interlocal agreement to transfer animal services to sheriff, with payment date corrected

The Levy County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an interlocal agreement transferring the county’s animal services to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and accepted a staff-requested technical change to the payment date for the initial $250,000 transfer.

Mary Ellen Harper, identified in the meeting as the lead accounting manager, told the board the draft agreement showed the $250,000 check to the sheriff dated 05/01/2026 but asked that the date be changed to 05/05/2026 to match the county's check run. "The draft in front of you has the $250,000 check to the sheriff being cut on 05/01/2026. The check run will actually be 05/05/2026," Harper said.

Sheriff McCallum addressed the board in support of the transfer and described staffing and transition steps, including interviews for open positions and a new director with experience. County counsel (recorded as Clark) said his office reviewed the agreement and prepared an internal compliance checklist covering statutory, fiscal and administrative responsibilities; he said staff are working toward winding prior operations down by July 31.

Commissioner Desiree Mills moved to approve the agreement with the recommended date change and the motion passed by voice vote. The action authorizes the sheriff to assume responsibility for animal services; staff will follow the compliance checklist and complete transition steps before the July 31 target date.

The board did not record a roll-call vote tally in the transcript; the approval was recorded as a voice vote.