AD-HOC ANIMAL CONTROL COMMITTEE
					MEETING MINUTES

				       OCTOBER 15, 2001


A  meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Ad-Hoc Animal Control Committee was
held on Monday, October 15, 2001 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. 
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dale at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rita Dale, Chairperson, Aaron Hopper, Debbie Green, Tim Dolehanty, Dave Carpenter, Ann Trissel

MEMBERS ABSENT:	Wendy Beaudoin-Zimmerman

OTHERS PRESENT:	Kyle Anderson, Denise Andres

Agenda Items
As requested at the previous meeting, County Controller Tim Dolehanty prepared and distributed draft
policies, position descriptions, and work schedules for the animal control operation of the animal shelter.
The Committee reviewed and discussed the documents.

Member Ann Trissel stated it would be important for the County to assure that animal control officers
and shelter assistants are vaccinated against rabies.  She also noted that volunteers should be restricted by
policy to primary clean up and feeding duties.

Denise Andres emphasized the importance of staff training and orientation.  She also stated her
preference of a work schedule that assured the shelter would be consistently and appropriately staffed.

Kyle Anderson questioned the cost effectiveness of the current building as an animal shelter.
Chairperson Dale stated there is a need for a new shelter.  Various options for a new facility were
discussed by the Committee.  Aaron Hopper reminded the Committee that the E.U.P. Regional Planning
Commission was involved in the design of the Mackinac County shelter.  He suggested those plans may
be of use to Chippewa County.

It was the consensus of the Committee that the present facility should continue to be utilized for the short
term, but long term plans should be developed to relocate the shelter to property owned by the County on
Mackinac Trail south of Sault Ste. Marie.

Chairperson Dale expressed her position that the animal control officer should not be assigned
responsibilities of a department head.  Instead, that responsibility should be given to the Controller.  Ann
Trissel added that the animal control officers should work out of the shelter.  The Committee concurred
with these suggestions.

Regarding the manner in which loose dogs are processed, Ann Trissel suggested it would be appropriate
to have the animal control officers return dogs to known owners, and that a civil infraction ticket be
issued.  Debbie Green stated the spay and neuter policies need to be better enforced.

Chairperson Dale suggested that the County establish an animal shelter advisory board, composed of
members who have experience with animals.  This group would be responsible for making
recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on animal shelter and animal control matters.

Adjourn
Hearing no other comments, Chairperson Dale declared the meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.






__________________________________	__________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder	Rita Dale, Committee Chairman



				AD-HOC ANIMAL CONTROL COMMITTEE
				       MEETING MINUTES

				      OCTOBER 22, 2001


A  meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Ad-Hoc Animal Control Committee was
held on Monday, October 22, 2001 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dale at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rita Dale, Chairperson, Aaron Hopper, Debbie Green, Tim Dolehanty,
		 Dave Carpenter, Ann Trissel, Wendy Beaudoin-Zimmerman, Cindy
		 Anderson

MEMBERS ABSENT:	None

OTHERS PRESENT:	None

Agenda Items
Chairperson Dale reviewed the Committee's progress to date.

Discussion turned to the proposed new animal shelter facility.  Aaron Hopper suggested the County
investigate the cost of relocating a steel building at Kinross to the proposed Mackinac Trail site for use
as a shelter facility. Ann Trissel and Debbie Green reported on their visit to the Mackinac County animal
shelter.  Now that officials there have operated in the new building for a few months, they noted many
deficiencies in the design such as lack of storage space.

Tim Dolehanty presented the balance of the draft department protocols and the draft position description
for shelter attendants.  Both documents were developed with information from the American Humane
Society.

Chairperson Dale introduced discussion on the proposed animal welfare advisory committee.  This
committee would provide input on the shelter and animal control programs to the Board of
Commissioners.  It was agreed that the County, City and law enforcement should be represented on the
committee, with one seat left at large to be filled by an interested citizen.

Chairperson Dale summarized the findings of the Ad Hoc Committee and advised that these findings
would be presented to the Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee for consideration on November 8. 
From there, the Board of Commissioners would be asked to act on the recommendations at their
November 13 meeting.

Adjourn
Hearing no other comments, Chairperson Dale declared the meeting adjourned at 12:18 p.m.






__________________________________	__________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder	Rita Dale, Committee Chairman