City manager, chief of police to handle negotiations for Columbus animal control
By Hannah James,
5 hours ago
COLUMBUS, Ga. ( WRBL )— Following the arrests of eight city workers in connection with the investigation into Columbus Animal Care and Control (CACC), the future restructuring of the shelter was a hot topic Tuesday in city council.
City Manager, Chief of Police to handle negotiations
The big issue was deciding who would be involved in future negotiations with Paws Humane to take over field and shelter operations of CACC.
“I have a concern also that the director of Public Works is in these negotiations,” Councilor Judy Thomas representing District 9 said. “This issue is because we are closing or we are moving, if this is approved, the Animal Control Center from Public Works.”
CACC is under the Public Works Department; the department director is Drale Short. Isaiah Hugley is the city manager, in charge of city’s operations and budget including Public Works. The two are naturally in line to oversee negotiations with Paws Humane for future restructuring; however, several city councilors are requesting additional oversight.
“I really do not want to give you the authority, Mr. City Manager, to negotiate this, because you flat out in public said that you did not know that these things were going on,” Councilor Charmaine Crabb representing District 5 said. “That’s part of your job.”
“There needs to be some additional oversight on the negotiation of this contract with Paws,” Councilor Byron Hickey said representing District 1.
Conversations about who will be a part of future negotiations continued for nearly an hour and a half, here is the resolution that passed.
“It would be most efficient for the city manager to work with the police chief to negotiate the contract, whatever that verbiage needs to say,” Mayor Pro Tem Gary Allen said. “But we tie in the police chief so that he is hand in hand with the city manager to get this done as quick as possible.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
Current Operations at Columbus Animal Care & Control
Short presented an update on current operations at CACC. Hours of shelter and field operations can be seen below.
Emergency calls for field operations include an injured animal, a dog attacking an animal or individual, and cruelty or neglect calls.
Non-emergency calls include lost and found animals and animal surrenders or rehoming. These calls are being referred to various rescues in the area.
Short’s entire update can be viewed, below.
How is the Columbus Police Department involved?
Councilor Toyia Tucker representing District 4 asked to remove CACC out from under Public Works and under the Columbus Police Department.
“I know we’re going to have conversations about Paws and maybe [Animal Control Officers] going under CPD,” Tucker said. “I think right now it is time for us to do right back by putting them under CPD and as council we have that their right to do that, not only the right but we have the authority placed on the city charter.”
The city attorney reminded councilors that cannot happen without an ordinance. Chief Mathis said he also does not have the personnel or infrastructure for this swap.
“We do not have the personnel to take over putting animals in our cars. We don’t have the capability. We don’t have the equipment and personally, the vehicles are not made to do that,” Chief Mathis said. “As far as taking over the personnel in the vehicles, we could temporarily take over the enforcement side of it… But before I do that, I would like to take an assessment of the personnel, the equipment and also the budget, because through this investigation, we found that that whole department is woefully underfunded, and it needs it needs to be holistically looked at. But I couldn’t take it over with just the personnel and equipment they got now.”
Tucker’s request and Chief Mathis’ entire statement on CACC can be heard, below.
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