The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
The Hancock County Board has permanently closed the county dog pound, following action at their regular meeting on March 18.
In a statement issued by the board, “Municipalities within Hancock County will now be solely accountable for handling dog-related issues within their jurisdictions.”
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department should be contacted for issues in unincorporated areas of the county related to concerns for rabies and animal abuse.
The Sheriff’s Office is not responsible for catching dogs running loose or searching for lost dogs.
In recent years, the conditions of the existing dog facility had deteriorated such that it was unfit to operate within the guidelines of the Animal Control Act of Illinois. (See related county board statement in this issue.)
The Health and Miscellaneous Committee of the county board made the recommendation to close the dog pound after several months of study and investigations. They based their decision, in part, on a county ordinance passed in 2008, according to Harry Douglas from the Health committee.
“The county is mandated to have an administrator to prevent the spread of rabies,” Douglas said after the meeting.
Dr. Maggie Harrell of the Hancock County Vet Service in Hamilton is designated as animal control administrator. The administrator’s duties are limited to instances of dog bites, rabies concerns or animal abuse.
In related action, the board authorized the board chairman, Mark Menn, to enter into a contract with Anthony Hopp as an animal transporter for the county. He will work with the Sheriff’s department in cases of dog bite incidents in unincorporated areas of the county.
The board approved a series of agreements supporting operation of the Hancock County Transportation System. Several were related to requirements of the Section 5311 Federal Transit Act in order to receive funds from the Illinois Downstate Operating Assistance Program.
The board agreed to apply for a Sheriff’s department grant for training with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.
It was approved with two stipulations. A memorandum of understanding will be established related to the current collective bargaining agreement with the Sheriff’s Department. Before signing the grant agreement, the county wants to confirm that they can terminate the contract early if this agreement with the collective bargaining agreement cannot be reached.
Action on hiring Jeff Totten as the solar/wind power administrator was tabled, while the Building and Grounds Committee finalizes details to recommend for his contract. Totten is the part-time ESDA county coordinator.
Bids for road materials for county and township projects were approved. Bids for liquid asphalt for the county and townships were awarded to W.L. Miller Company. Bids for oil and chip spreading on roadways were granted to A.C. Pavement Striping.
The board learned that bids for the Connable Road project were to be opened on March 20.
A three-year contract was approved with QFB Energy for energy supply.
Harry Douglas was approved as vice chairman of the Health and Miscellaneous Committee.
Tom Rogers was appointed to serve on a committee to plan an observance of Hancock County’s bicentennial year in 2025.