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County shifts focus from hiring ACO to expanding Skowhegan shelter; $250,000 committed
Summary
After ACO Study Committee meetings, county officials shifted emphasis from adding an Animal Control Officer to expanding capacity at the Somerset Humane Society shelter in Skowhegan; the county has committed $250,000 toward a new building and commissioners asked staff to meet the humane society board to plan next steps.
County Administrator Tim Curtis reported Dec. 4 that meetings of the Animal Control Officer (ACO) Study Committee — which included town representatives, law enforcement, ACOs and the Somerset Humane Society — moved the discussion away from hiring a county ACO and toward expanding shelter capacity in Skowhegan.
Curtis said the county has committed $250,000 toward building a new shelter, with three payments of $50,000 already made, and the commissioners agreed the next payment should be used to jump-start planning for a new facility. Commissioners asked that Administrator Curtis and a commissioner meet with the Humane Society's board of directors to offer technical support and strategic planning.
The consensus was procedural direction to coordinate with the Humane Society and bring outcomes back to the commission for any formal funding or contractual decisions. No formal allocation beyond the committed $250,000 was adopted at this meeting.
