Council amends payment of claims to remove $7,903 Humane Society charge for review

At the March 10 meeting the council considered item 6C, the payment of claims for Feb. 25–Mar. 10, 2026, a batch the clerk presented as totaling roughly $3.96 million. Council member Hosy moved to remove a single kenneling claim of $7,903.28 billed by the Central Nebraska Humane Society for further review, citing apparent billing irregularities and contract language about per-animal placement payments.

Hosy explained he reviewed six months of invoices and flagged multiple concerns: payments for non-domestic animals such as birds and snakes, multiple long stays (one invoice for 23 nights that exceeded $1,000), and a high share of public drop-offs rather than city-placed animals. He said the contract language around three full business days and per-animal payment warranted reconciliation before remitting the claim. "I don't want to pay them wrongly, but I do think we need to pay them fairly," he said.

Council members and staff discussed process and checks: police department staff, code enforcement, the city attorney and accounts-payable review invoices before council consideration. City administration said the amendment would functionally deny that single claim for now; staff committed to reconciling the invoice with the Humane Society and returning with a report at the next meeting or bringing the claim back unbundled if appropriate. City staff also reminded council the contract includes a facility payment ($25,000 per month, roughly $300,000 per year) for priority placement separate from per-animal charges.

Council approved the amended payment of claims (amending out the $7,903.28 claim) and the matter will be reconciled by staff, legal and departmental reviewers before any future payment on that line item.

Speakers quoted are listed in the article's speaker list below.