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Council approves Tri County Humane Society contract after discussion about quarantine and rising costs
Summary
Council members discussed rising stray-animal costs and that the Tri County Humane Society will no longer hold animals for a 10-day quarantine; the council approved the contract after questioning, with staff explaining day-to-day practices would change and costs had increased.
Waite Park city council moved and approved the Tri County Humane Society contract after council members raised questions about recurring stray-animal expenses and changes to quarantine handling, according to the meeting record.
During the consent agenda review a council member pulled item B (the Tri County Humane Society contract) for discussion. Council members and staff noted a recurring issue with stray or feral cats being trapped and brought to the humane society, and that the city’s invoiced costs for intake had increased; one council member referenced a bill of about $2,600 and said quarterly costs had roughly doubled.
Staff explained that the humane society had changed its practices and no longer intended to hold animals for a 10-day quarantine period before release; instead, the proposed contract would reflect day-to-day self-quarantine procedures that staff said are already allowed under the state statute and existing city ordinance. Staff emphasized that the contract change adjusts operational practice, not the ordinance itself.
After discussion one council member moved to approve item B, the motion was seconded and called; the meeting record shows one vocal 'opposed' during the vote. The contract was placed on the consent agenda and approved with that recorded opposition noted in the proceedings.
