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Valley County approves $25,000 grant to McPaws, commissioners agree to separate sheriff-access contract
Summary
The board voted to contribute $25,000 from FY26 grant funds to McPaws and directed that sheriff access to the shelter be handled by a separate contract; the county prosecutor will update last year's contract for signatures.
The Valley County commissioners on Nov. 10 approved a one-time $25,000 contribution to McPaws from the county's FY26 grant funds and directed staff to create a separate agreement governing sheriff access to the nonprofit shelter.
Cortney Bayuk, executive director of McPaws, asked the board to clarify the relationship between county support and sheriff access to the facility. Bayuk told commissioners the organization provides services she believes are required by state statute and that access for the sheriff supports intake of animals from the public.
Commissioner Neal Thompson and Commissioner Katlin Caldwell both said the county should separate funding from operational access; Prosecuting Attorney Brian Oakey advised the board that two separate agreements or distinct sections within an agreement would be appropriate. Chairman Sherry Maupin and Attorney Oakey agreed that one document should not conflate a baseline county contribution with the specific operational access used by the sheriff's office.
Commissioner Caldwell moved to allocate $25,000 from FY26 grant monies to McPaws (taking last year's contribution amount out of the grant program this year); Commissioner Thompson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Attorney Oakey will update last year's contract for signatures.
What happens next: County legal staff will prepare the updated contract for execution; McPaws is expected to follow the normal grant application process for future years.
