FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County officials advanced a proposal Tuesday to add three positions to the animal shelter to help alleviate overworked and stressed staff.
The Finance and Budget Committee also heard Tuesday about the resignation of Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Spears effective at the end of the month.
By The Numbers
Animal Shelter Comparisons
SpringdaleFayettevilleWashington County
Staff*13189 plus contracted veterinarian
Open to the public per week*34 hours43.5 hours43 hours
Dogs/cats taken this year*1,4131,6041,296
Euthanasia rate*28 percent10 percent14 percent
2013 budget*$695,150970,000$457,041
Source: Washington County
The committee approved the $69,406 addition to the shelter’s $295,234 personnel budget to hire a full-time veterinarian, a vet tech/kennel supervisor and a third kennel supervisor. The third position would also do front-office duties, said Dan Short, chief of staff to County Judge Marilyn Edwards.
The full Quorum Court will vote on the new positions next week.
“If we get these three new positions, I think it’s going to be a breath of air for the folks down there as far as having a normal work week that most of our county employees enjoy,” Short said.
The county contracts for a part-time veterinarian and has seven full-time employees, including the shelter director, who are paid from Edward’s budget. The Sheriff’s Office pays for two animal control officers.
The seven employees under Edwards worked a combined 125 hours of overtime from July 1 through July 27, according to Short’s monthly report. Employee illnesses and days off from work add stress to the remaining few to cover a shelter that’s open daily, Short said.
The Quorum Court budgeted $457,041 for all shelter-related expenses during its first full year in operation. The shelter also relies on volunteer work from inmate labor for duties such as cleaning and dog walking which racked up 1,998 hours of labor from July 1 to July 27.
“What I’m struggling with hiring new people is the voluntary hours. That’s a lot of hours,” said Justice of the Peace Rex Bailey.
Angela Ledgerwood, shelter director, said inmate labor and other volunteers cannot give animals vaccinations and medication.
“That’s a big part of what we do,” she said.
Fayetteville’s shelter employs 14 workers plus two full-time animal control officers and two part-time officers. The city budgeted $970,000 for this year, according to county reports.
Springdale’s shelter employs 13 workers including three animal control officers who also do euthanizing, office and cleaning duties. Springdale budgeted $695,150 for the year.
The three shelters have each taken in between 1,296 and 1,604 dogs and cats so far this year.
The committee approved the proposal through a vocal vote with some, including Bailey, voicing opposition.
At the end of the committee’s meeting, Quorum Court members heard about Spear’s intention to resign.
Spears represents the Farmington area. She's on her third term as justice of the peace after her first election in 2006. She was appointed by former Gov. Mike Huckabee to finish out a vacant Quorum Court seat in 2004.
She started a new job as superintendent of the Lincoln School District in July.
Spears has been with the district for seven years. She was hired as assistant high school principal in 2006 and was promoted to principal in 2009. She taught math and business in Farmington for 12 years.
“It’s mixed emotions, but I feel like I need to concentrate on this new position,” she said.
In other business, the committee also approved capital funding for large kennel run at the animal shelter for $9,375, an air handling unit for the courthouse for $64,693 and $93,960 to buy a new database system at the county’s planning office.