LINCOLN -- In light of increased fees at the Washington County Animal Shelter, the city of Lincoln will pay more of the costs to help Lincoln Pound Pals in transporting dogs to the county shelter.
The county shelter this year increased its impound fees from $85 to $150 per animal. It also added a new fee of $10 per day per animal, up to three days.
Under the previous agreement, Lincoln Pound Pals paid $66 per dog taken to the county shelter and the city paid the balance of $19.
Lincoln City Council passed a resolution at its June 20 meeting to update its contracts with Washington County and Lincoln Pound Pals to reflect the changes.
In its partnership agreement with Lincoln Pound Pals, the city agrees to pay $50 per dog toward the $150 county fee, plus the $10 a day shelter fee up to three days. Lincoln Pound Pals will pay $100 toward the costs.
Marilyn Miles, president of Lincoln Pound Pals, said the city's willingness to pay more of the shelter fee is "huge" for the non-profit organization.
When the county announced the impound fee increase, Miles said she was concerned how it would affect the Pound Pals and its goals to eliminate euthanasia at Lincoln Animal Pound.
"The city has embraced the Pound Pals and is very supportive of what we are trying to do," Miles said, specifically expressing her appreciation to Rhonda Hulse, the city's business manager. "We're thrilled that they are going to do this."
She said the increase is hefty for both Pound Pals and the city. The city's cost will increase from $19 to a maximum of $80. The Pals' cost will increase from $66 to $100.
Several representatives of Lincoln Pound Pals attended the Council's meeting and Mayor Rob Hulse told them, "We appreciate very much what you are doing."
The city's annual cost will probably be about $2,500, based on an average of 50 dogs per year, Rob Hulse said.
He said the city would continue to look at ways to save money with the same goal of no euthanasia. One way would be to try to find a dog's owner so the animal does not have to go to the county animal shelter.
In other action, Council members approved an ordinance to waive competitive bidding to purchase a new pickup truck for the fire administrator. The city and Lincoln Rural Fire Department are jointly paying for the three/fourths-ton, four-wheel-drive truck, a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. Total cost of the vehicle is $42,000.
Rhonda Hulse reported health insurance premiums have gone up by $85 per month per employee. Currently, city employees pay $30 per month and the city pays the rest of the premium. The Council agreed to split the cost of the increase, with the city and each employee paying $42.50 more per month.
Rhonda Hulse also reported the city's plan to replace lights at the softball and baseball fields with new LED lights would have to be re-evaluated because there was a question about the wattage of the lights and this could affect how much the city would receive in incentive pay.
The city was expecting to receive about $35,000 in incentive pay for installing energy efficient lights. Some incentive pay is still there but Hulse said she would not know how much until the project is re-evaluated using the correct wattage for the lights. She said she would update the Council when new information is available.
The city hopes to save almost $20,000 per year in energy costs by replacing the lights.
General News on 07/05/2017