Union Grove

Animal control policy tied to budget costs

By Dave Fidlin

Correspondent

Union Grove could have an animal control enforcement policy on its books, but officials say implementation of that policy is still off into the future as logistical issues – including staff responsibilities and costs – are reviewed.

Members of the Village Board’s Administration/Finance Committee discussed the issue briefly at a meeting held last week.

If enacted, the policy will likely address the two most common types of pets – dogs and cats – and touch on a myriad of issues, including noise complaints, vaccinations and whether or not staff will pick up loose or roaming pets.

Village Board Trustee Tim Mallach, who also serves on the committee, has been looking into some of the specifics of the animal control issue.

Right now, Mallach told the committee, there are no concrete updates on the topic, although more specifics could burble to the surface in the next few months.

“It’s hard to say what we’re going to do right now,” Mallach said. “We might look at some municipal comparisons. There’s a lot of stuff on the table right now.”

One of the biggest questions looming over animal control enforcement involves the same issue faced in all functions of local government: money.

“We’d like to do a cost analysis to see what this might cost,” Mallach said.

“There would be start-up fees, and there would probably be some classes and training involved.”

The goal, Mallach said, is to have a final decision on the full scope of Union Grove’s animal control by the end of this year.

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