September 11th, 2014
The city approved to add animal control to the list of duties from the Corps of Commissionaires of Manitoba, which will cost them $56,928 annually, as the current animal control officer is retiring on Sept. 27.
Animal control officer Wendall Hawker also sold the shelter he owned to house the animals he captured to Portage Animal Welfare Society. Since this is a private shelter, the city tried to make an agreement with PAWS in order to continue to house the animals. Both parties couldn’t reach an agreement so the city is looking at other options. Since the Rural Municipality of Portage also used Hawker’s services, it to has to look for another alternative.
The commissionaires’ hourly rate is $29.65 with overtime coming in at $40.48 an hour. The commissionaires will only respond to calls for animal control between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays; outside of those hours the overtime rate will apply. The city will pay for food for the animals at a cost of about $1,000 a year and will provide shelter.
A report from city administration will be presented to council on Sept. 22 as to its options.