COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch and Hillsdale County officials are trying to work out a new Animal Control Contract.
The current 10-year deal expires at the end of the year. Hillsdale County paid Branch County a total of $30,000 with three $10,000 payments during the course of the agreement.
Branch County Administrator Frank Walsh points out that at the same time, Branch County taxpayers contributed approximately $1,000,000 to animal control.
While Walsh wants to remain partners with Hillsdale County, he wants the funding gap closed.
He said in his memo to the Commissioners for their work session on Thursday that the current offer from Hillsdale County is $250 per dog but even that leaves a large discrepancy in the cost sharing
Walsh says he plans to meet with Hillsdale County officials on Monday. He says two issues must be resolved prior to bringing the issue back to the Branch County Commissioners.
First, how does Hillsdale County plan to support Branch County’s animal control office in rehousing their dogs and secondly, what is an appropriate cost sharing between the two counties.
Walsh held a closed session with the Board of Commissioners following Thursday’s work session in order to review a legal opinion on their proposed agreement.
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