11/30/11 The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the Common Council approved several annual contracts during their meetings Monday evening.
The organizations rent the Old Firehouse at the corner of Center and Washington Streets. The Marshall County Blueberry Festival and the Marshall County Bureau of Tourism have an annual lease to pay the city $400 each monthly for their space while Heart and Hands uses the upper floor a couple of days a week and will pay $200 monthly.
Another annual contract discussed during the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting was the Animal Control Services Agreement with the Marshall County Humane Society. Their annual contract is $29,125 and has been the same amount for the past 10 years. When asked by council members how the service has been, Police Chief Jim Cox said, “They won’t come out much after hours.” He said the Humane Society says the cost of fuel has limited their responses. Cox explained that his officers capture the animals, and then hold them overnight and some times over the weekend which means they must also feed them while at the Police Station.
City Council member Chuck Ripley suggested raising the annual rate to cover their cost of picking up animal’s aft3r hours. Ripley said, “We need to remove the burden on the police.”
When asked how many times the department needs to house an animal in 52 weeks the Chief said, “I’d hate to speculate.” Councilman Mark Neidig, looking at the October activity report said the department handled 47 animal complaints.
The Board of Public Works tabled the agreement and will ask the director to appear at next month’s meeting.
The Plymouth Common Council approved the annual contract with the Marshall County Council on Aging for transportation services in the city for an annual payment $6,000 and Planning services with Bill Neal for $13,474.
