For the next three years, the Golden Belt Humane Society will serve as Barton County’s animal control authority following an agreement approved by the County Commission Monday morning. But, it was not a walk in the doggie park for the deal, the cost of which was questioned.

It passed 4-1 with commissioners Kenny Schremmer, Homer Kruckenberg, Jennifer Schartz and Don Davis voting for it. The sole nay vote came from Alicia Struab.

In short, “they provide all animal control services for Barton County,” said County Administrator Phil Hathcock, adding this includes dogs and cats, as well as livestock. The society works with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Health Department and 911.

The county was given representation on the Humane Society Board of Directors. The new pact details duties and financial obligations, adds representation from the BCSO to the board, and allows either party to cancel the agreement with 30-days notice.

“The county determines the budget each year,” Hathcock said. For the past two years, this has been $31,500 and this is the amount budgeted for this year as well.

The discussion

But, “I’m conscious of how we are spending taxpayer dollars,” Straub said. “I think we need to take care of humans first.”

The county gets requests from agencies like RSVP and Sunflower Diversified Services for funding as well. “There are a lot of mouths to feed,” Straub said.

When the issue came up during a commission study session, Straub said she asked how many animals the society handled for the county. She also wanted to know how much it cost the county per animal.

So far this year, the BCHS has dealt with 103 calls outside of incorporated areas, Hathcock said. But, the per call cost is tough to determine since the services required vary from case to case.

Then, Health Director Shelly Schneider voiced support for the society. She said there are a lot of “unseen” and “unbillable” services it provides.

This year, the BCHS has helped with 75 animal bite investigations. Some of these take hours, some take months, and this saves time and money for her department. 

“This is part of what our county needs to do to keep its citizens save,” Schneider said. “We are money ahead.”

A cost of business?

Still, Straub was unswayed. “We have so many human beings that need services.”

She ran through some numbers. The society charges a $40 impound fee and then $10 per day for boarding an animal.

With the State of Kansas only requiring that an animal be watched for three days, that comes to $70 that would be billed to the animal owner. With 100 animals, that comes to $7,000, a far cry from $31,500.

She said she didn’t want animals put down right away, but all expenses must be questioned. “We need to keep taxes as low as we can. We are going above and beyond what the state requires of us.”

But, “you’re barking up the wrong tree,” Davis said. “This is the Barton County Humane Society.”

Davis said the staff has to be paid and the facilities maintained. “It’s not all for animal care.”

Sheriff Brian Bellendir agreed with Davis. “Running a county jail and a doggie jail are about the same,” he said.

It costs him about $300-400 per day per inmate, much of which isn’t reimbursed. “It’s all about infrastructure. They are in the same position I am.”

Bellendir understood where Straub was coming from. But, “it’s one of the costs of doing business.”

Straub was also concerned about the county being locked into a set budget amount each year and the agreement allows for a 5 percent increase annually.

But, Hathcock assured her that the amount and any increase were at the commission’s desecration.

Other funding

According to the budget approved by the Great Bend City Council for 2019, the society will receive $89,250. This is up from $81,000 in 2017 and $85,000 for 2018.

There are no other cities in Barton County that contribute to the BCHS. However, Hoisington has an animal control service, and the police departments are the animal control contacts in Ellinwood and Claflin.