County Animal Control Concerned about Rising Costs
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Perry County Animal Control Officer Danny Queen asked the County Board to find a way to recover the cost of euthanizing animals brought in by the City of Du Quoin.
The cost of the shot has doubled from $5 to $10. The cost of tranquilizer darts has also risen to almost $8 each.
The county does have an ordinance that allows them to recoup dart costs.
Queen said Du Quoin refuses to collect a fee for unwanted dogs or anything else. He approached City Administrator Blaine Bastien about collecting the fees and was told it would not happen.
Animal Control has an intergovernmental agreement with each of the six municipalities in Perry County to pay $.75 per resident each year to help cover the cost of running Animal Control.
Queen said some counties and municipalities charge a flat fee per call.
State's Attorney David Stanton said he would review the statutes and ordinances which govern what can be charged. He will also examine the intergovernmental agreement to see if it must be amended to recoup costs.
Preliminary research by County Clerk Kevin Kern suggests a cost analysis will most likely not be required in this instance. Often, government agencies must conduct a cost study to justify raising rates of any kind.
"We're not in the business of making money," Stanton said. "We are allowed to recover costs."
Queen said all he is suggesting is raising fees to break even. He also suggested raising the pound pick-up fee from $15 to $25.
The Perry County Humane Society saves the majority of unwanted dogs from euthanization, but cannot save the majority of the cats.
He estimated that about 200 cats per year are euthanized.
"There are just more cats than people," Queen said.
In other business, the board:
Approved the low bidders for County and Unit Road District Motor Fuel Tax materials. Foreman Ruben Davis said the cost of oil per gallon has risen from $.89 in 2006 to $2.37 this year. Motor fuel tax receipts have also decreased by $108,346 in that time. The good news is that this year's bids were comparable to last year. Perry County bid very early to get the best price possible.
Authorized Commissioner Jim Epplin to approve a document for employee health care reimbursement requests once it is approved by the local bargaining units. The form will be submitted by employees who had out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the health insurance changes in January 2010. Employees will receive information about reimbursement in the first paycheck after the document is approved.
Re-appointed Keith Kellerman, David Durkota and Michael Richmond to the Emergency Telephone System Board.
Re-appointed Brian Cutler and Cathy Youngman and appointed Diane Valentine to the Tamaroa Cemetery Association Board.