Vance County Animal Services is one step closer to adding an animal services officer to its three-member team who would be responsible for responding to calls within the Henderson city limits.
Frankie Nobles met with Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen and members of the commissioners’ Human Relations Committee Wednesday afternoon to discuss details of the arrangement, which basically states that the city of Henderson will foot the bill – roughly $51,000 in salary and benefits – for the additional position.
The city has been asking for increased service from animal services, and Nobles has asked for more staff for the past couple of years, but the money just wasn’t to be found. The city-funded position would provide another officer in the county department.
Nobles said that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, there were 761 incidents reported to animal services in the city; in that same period, there were 778 incidents received from the county.
Having a fourth officer will help the small staff, Nobles said.
“It really does help,” he said, adding that having another person in the rotation gives everybody else a break and helps reduce burnout. He said the animal services officers routinely work their regular shifts then log an additional 15-30 hours on the weekends when they’re on call.
The committee approved the recommendation, and the matter will come before the board of commissioners at its meeting next week for final approval.