Linn supervisors set to approve new Cedar Valley animal control contract

Linn County is set to approve its new contract with the Cedar Valley Humane Society for animal-control services.

"This has been a long time coming," County Supervisor Linda Langston, D-Cedar Rapids, said as supervisors reviewed the proposed agreement at Monday morning's work session.

The county has considered partnering with Cedar Rapids, but the city's effort to build a new animal shelter to replace the one lost to the June 2008 flood is slowed by negotiations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over its location and FEMA funding.

The city continues to pursue a new facility on the Kirkwood Community College campus, but college officials ruled out working with a non-profit agency such as Cedar Valley and county supervisors decided to move on their own.

"The city is not an option for the county at this point," said Darrin Gage, the county's director of policy and administration.

"I was hoping we could have a partnership, but we're kind of operating on two different paths now," said Supervisor Ben Rogers, D-Cedar Rapids.

With the new fiscal year Friday, the county will  pay Cedar Valley a monthly fee of $6,250, with an additional $75 "call-out" fee for each case handled by the agency's animal control officers.

The county's current flat annual rate of $60,000 hasn't changed since 1998.

The  agreement covers unincorporated Linn County. CVHS has been negotiating contracts with county municipalities outside Cedar Rapids and Marion to provide services to each.

Supervisors will consider the new contract at their formal session 10 a.m. Thursday in the board room at Linn County West in the Westdale Mall.