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Animal shelter director urges county PSA and more staff as intake rises across Lee County
Summary
Animal Protection Services Director Laura Jordan told the commission the shelter is taking on heavy county intake and asked the city to pursue a multi‑year professional services agreement with the county, and to fund additional staff and modular shelter units to stabilize operations.
Animal Protection Services Director Laura Jordan told the commission Lovington’s shelter is operating at or above capacity and absorbs most stray intake from surrounding county areas. She asked the commission to approach the county about a multi‑year professional services agreement that would guarantee a predictable revenue stream and let the shelter plan staffing and operations.
Jordan described requests in the FY27 packet that would increase authorized staffing from seven full‑time and two part‑time positions to a proposed staffing model of nine full‑time and six part‑time positions plus volunteers; she also described a modular‑shelter plan county officials have discussed and asked the commission to consider a one‑time supplement to cover overhead and operating costs if county funding can be tied to a multi‑year agreement.
Jordan said project grants are generally restricted to capital items and do not cover ongoing operational costs. ‘‘A lot of our grant money is project only; it won't assist with operations,’’ she said, adding that county support—if formalized as a PSA—would allow the shelter to budget more reliably. Jordan also said the shelter is evaluating fee changes and more robust spay‑neuter and vaccination efforts to reduce long‑term intake.
Why it matters: The shelter’s capacity and funding affects animal welfare outcomes and municipal costs; unplanned intake from surrounding jurisdictions imposes operational burdens on city staff and the general fund unless an agreement secures county support or the shelter increases revenues and staff.
What's next: Commissioners asked staff to engage county leadership on a formal PSA and to return with a fiscal model showing how different levels of county assistance (per‑animal reimbursements, partial staffing support, or guaranteed multi‑year funding) would affect the city operating budget. Jordan requested that the commission consider her requested staffing plan and modular units as priority capital needs if a county PSA can be secured.
