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Blog
Is Change Coming?
Posted on 20 February, 2011 at 10:49 |
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Animal Control may become its own department
Comments 12
February 20, 2011 3:26 AM
With population growth and a rise in recent
animal incidents, Onslow County officials say Animal Control would serve
residents better as an independent creature.
Animal Control has been a division of the county
health department since its inception, but a vote Monday by the Board of
Commissioners could change that, establishing the Onslow County Animal
Services Department and creating a new volunteer position of animal
cruelty investigator.
Animal Control has historically been a part of
the health department because of the role played by the county health
director in rabies and vicious animal cases; but as Onslow County grows
more urban, the challenges facing Animal Control have increased, said
County Manager Jeff Hudson.
“Animal populations have grown with our citizen
population,” he said. “Moreover, the amounts of abuse, neglect and
animal attacks have appeared to rise over time.”
In developing an answer to the problem, Onslow
County government has the option of enhancing Animal Control by
transitioning the agency to its own department, which would provide both
road-officer services and operations at the county animal shelter,
according to information provided by county staff.
Hudson said an advisory board would be created to allow residents a voice in how the new department would be run.
The department would coordinate volunteers and
nonprofit agencies to supplement county employees, especially the animal
cruelty investigator — a position recognized by state law — who will
work with law enforcement to identify and help prosecute cases of
neglect or brutality towards animals.
The new department would be led by the new
position of Animal Services Director with administrative and financial
duties handled by an administrative assistant.
Hudson said the change would cost $41,000 for the
rest of the fiscal year and then around $99,000 each year after that
with most of the money going to pay for two new positions.
"A portion of that would be off-set by fees collected by the new department," he said.
The commissioners will discuss this and other
matters Monday during their regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting at
Jacksonville City Hall on New Bridge Street.
Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or [email protected]. |
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