St. Clair approves contract with Franklin County Humane Society and pays for citywide pavement/ADA assessment

The St. Clair Board of Aldermen voted to authorize two agreements on Feb. 3: an agreement with the Franklin County Humane Society to board stray animals and a contract with Cochran Engineering for a citywide pavement preventative maintenance plan and an ADA sidewalk assessment.

Bill 20256, authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Franklin County Humane Society of Missouri for handling and boarding stray animals within city limits, was approved and became Ordinance No. 221. The agreement sets a city payment of $35 per day up to a maximum of $175 for the state-mandated holding period and imposes a $100 intake fee for each animal delivered by police or residents. The Humane Society retains discretion to accept or deny intake; it will provide the city with an itemized monthly list of animals held and their found locations. The contract also includes a 60-day termination clause.

A city presenter told the board the agreement is not perfect but is the only solution currently available and that staff will continue exploring regional alternatives. "This is not perfect for us... but it is the only solution that we have on the table right now," the presenter said, adding that conversations with nearby cities and the Humane Society have been positive.

Bill 20257, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Cochran Engineering for a preventive pavement maintenance plan (PPMP) and an ADA assessment for all city roads, was approved and became Ordinance No. 222. The presenter said the city had budgeted $330,000 for the assessment and that adding an ADA review could unlock a $10,000 grant; he recommended approval, saying the PPMP will provide a 10–15 year roadmap to prioritize street repairs.

Transcript text contains inconsistent figures for the contract amount: earlier presentation language refers to an amount “not to exceed $40,000” for the ADA assessment add-on, while the ordinance language recorded in the meeting refers to an amount “not to exceed $440,000.” The presenter said staff will execute a budget amendment later to add $10,000 that will be offset by a grant, and described the net budgetary effect as effectively zero. The record does not include a detailed roll-call tally by name for the votes; the clerk called the roll and the motions carried.

Volunteer animal-rescue supporters spoke in favor of the Humane Society agreement. Sharon Calber, who said she volunteers with animal rescue and had recently completed a volunteer orientation, told the board the Humane Society’s services are urgently needed: "...every day counts when it's a life of a human or a life of an animal," she said, urging approval.

The Board will post the finalized agreements and any budget amendments in subsequent records; staff said the Humane Society will bill only for actual days boarded (with a limit for billing in certain circumstances) and provide itemized monthly statements to the city.