Animal services change on Board of Supervisors agenda

An ordinance paving the way for the Nevada Humane Society to handle Carson City animal services and an agreement to make the change are up for votes at Thursday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

The ordinance authorizes city government to contract with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals to handle tasks like catching strays, issuing permits and licenses, monitoring pertinent health and safety matters, and operating the animal shelter. City Manager Nick Marano said the budget envisioned is just under $700,000, a decrease of $50,000 from what the city was anticipating this year without the change.

A new fee schedule for services from the society with which city government plans to contract will be implemented.

Debate is anticipated. Lisa Helget, a supervisor candidate from Ward 1, raised issues at the last board meeting. Helget seeks the seat held currently by Supervisor Karen Abowd, the incumbent running for reelection.

Supervisor John McKenna suggested the ordinance isn’t the place to make a change in the policing power language and it should be handled in the contract instead. Accompanying the ordinance under Health and Human Services on the agenda are a lease and agreement involving the humane society and city, as well as a resolution authorizing donations to the society. The staff summary of the lease and pact says:

“Pending approval by the Carson City Board of Supervisors, Carson City will contract with the Nevada Humane Society for Animal Services’ operations, direction, supervision, regulation, policing and enforcement.”

Also on Thursday’s agenda is a public hearing regarding the city’s intent to issue $13.6 million in bonds to do capital projects and final action on refunding bonds to save the city more than $1.25 million via lower interest rates in coming decades. The capital project bonds are backed by an eighth of a penny hike in city sales tax passed earlier. Each of the bond matters are expected to be routine.

In addition, the agenda includes possible action on the Audit Committee’s recommendation a city employee efficiency study be paid for partially from the internal audit budget, the Sheriff’s Office and the city’s General Fund contingency account. The study will cost $52,000.

The board meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Carson City Community Center’s Sierra Room. The agenda calls for a lunch break recess when morning action is over and a 2 p.m. resumption in the same room for the afternoon session.