New Humane Society agreement OK’D

Sterling City Council has adopted a new agreement with Logan County Humane Society that appears to address some of the concerns citizens have voiced about animal control in the city.

The agreement was adopted Tuesday during the council’s regular meeting, after a closed-door session to discuss the agreement with City Attorney Matthew Richardson.

It provides for the city to pay the Humane Society $185,400 annually for animal control services.

In recent months numerous citizens had complained to City Council about a seeming lack of response and lack of follow-up to animal calls in Sterling. The preamble to the agreement sets down five specific goals of animal control in the city, among them the desire “To be accountable, transparent, responsive and fiscally responsible relating to animal control laws and regulations.”

The agreement requires that all animal control calls to the Humane Society “shall be timely received and responded to by the Humane Society,” and that on-call animal wardens will be available for emergency calls outside of business hours. Emergency calls include those for “an injured animal, a person who has been bitten by an animal, or a dangerous unrestrained threatening dog…”

The agreement also calls for the city to notify and document all calls regarding services provided by the Humane Society within three days of receiving those calls.

The Humane Society is tasked with “proactive” duties, including outreach and education of the public on animal regulations. The role, duties and limitations of animal wardens also are clearly defined in the agreement, which requires the city to provide adequate training to Humane Society personnel.

In other business during the meeting the council:

Renewed liquor licenses for Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, Elm Street Liquor and El Jacal Restaurant in Sterling;

Approved two special event permits to Sterling Elks Lodge;

Approved a grant application from the Department of Local Affairs for peace officer behavioral health support;

Approved the city property tax levy to support the city budget for the 2024 budget year.

The next regular city council meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 23.