Animal Control No Bargain (Fontana Herald 080306) City is paying $250K a year for Animal control service, then someone better respond when requested!!

I cannot say to much about this subject, Or can I!! I worked in Rialto City. I have to say that this Report is a fine Study of What Would have happened if the City Council would have gotten their way in regard to Contracting with the Sheriff's Department for Law Enforcement, & Animal Control for their Humane Services.

As everyone now is well aware of, last Sept 13, 2005 The Rialto City Council Voted 4-1 to Contract with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department for Law Enforcement Duties. Ed Scott was the main Speaker and more then likely besides Garcia was the main Council Member that wanted this to happen. Ed Scott continually made statements about the Cities Police Department, about how Corrupt they were and how they were so bad with Calls for service and what not. There was no Law Enforcement Action underway against the Rialto Police Department at that time, and there has not been since all those comments were made in fact the only Law Suits are against the City, City Administration for Wrongful Termination, Sexual Harassment, Hostile work environment, & Prejudice.

But It is all the Employee's that Ed Scott is Elegizing that is corrupt that is pulling in all the Law Suits against the Management of the Police Department, Namely Chief Meyers, Assist Chief Burgess, and City administrator Garcia is named on one as well.

But the point that I am trying to make is that there was no Corruptness on the Department with the exception of the Police Chief, and Assist Chief. and the way that they were Managing the Police Department. You can tell by the law suits.

Now, if they Were to have contracted with the County for Law Enforcement and Humane Services, we would be in the same situation that Fontana is in now!! Having to put an Embarrassing News article in the paper as to why they cannot get the Dog Police To respond to a Dog Problem!! However the Sheriff would not let people hang, they know that there is such a liability and they would do what they need to do to fill that liability.

Anyway, It will be interesting to see what happens with Fontana and the County Animal Control and their contract.

BSRanch

Animal control no bargain

By David Avila, Community News Staff Writer

If a city is paying about $250,000 a year for animal control services, then someone better respond when requested.

“Animal control would not come out,” said Penny Lilburn, a city councilwoman who called San Bernardino County's animal control offices when she needed a specialist to come out to her neighborhood one day. “Why are we paying them?”

Lilburn wants the city to investigate contracting an alternative animal control company after discovering what many other Highland residents have experienced, an alleged lack of response from San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control.

“I called animal control and could not find a live person,” said Jeffrey Singleton, 35, who was walking his dog at the dog park during the weekend. “What if a dog had rabies? They are pretty useless in my estimation.”

Highland currently has a contract with the county's animal control services that it signed a year ago, but Lilburn wants the city to look into maybe seeking another company or beginning its own.

City Manager Joe Hughes said he would put out feelers about the cost of other animal control units and the possibility of Highland beginning its own facility.

“Historically, we contract with San Bernardino County,” Hughes said during a meeting of the Public Safety subcommittee on Tuesday, July 25. “There's really no one we can turn to. We can look at the alternatives.”

San Bernardino County has two animal control centers: one in Devore and another in Big Bear City.

Brian Cronin, program manager for Animal Control, said he has not received calls regarding complaints from residents in Highland.

“I've not had any issue from any individual and outline who may have had a concern,” said Cronin by telephone. “Traditionally, if someone has a concern they would bring it to my attention and I would respond accordingly.”

Mayor Ross Jones supports the city investigating having its own facility like the city of Redlands and sharing it with a neighboring city.

“Redlands' population is 77,000; they're not much different from us,” said Jones.

Lilburn and Jones both feel the city is inadequately serviced by the county and should investigate alternatives.

“We're supposed to have a dedicated person for our area,” Lilburn said, suggesting that a study session be included, especially in light of Animal Control's request for a $5,900 increase.

With the current contract expiring, the city wants to move forward.

“It may be a timely time to re-address the services,” said Jones. “Their response time is very, very poor.”