The City of Brewton will be taking a closer look at what might best benefit the community in the area of animal control.
Humane Society of Escambia County officials say there are no contracts in place to provide animal control services to municipalities within the county — and Brewton is considering its options.
A committee to study the animal control needs in Brewton recently met with Humane Society officials to discuss options.
Dennis Dunaway, a member of the city’s committee, told fellow city council members Tuesday he hopes the group’s area of consideration could be widened.
“We have met and looked at the demands from the Humane Society,” Dunaway told council members Tuesday. “We have not made a decision on those demands and would like to ask the mayor to broaden the scope of this committee to allow us to look at what the best interest of the community is in regard to animal control.”
Mayor Ted Jennings agreed to broaden the group’s abilities to research the needs of the community and the best way to address them.
The HSEC had drastically reduced its services in May when the group closed shelter services in the county. Officials with the volunteer-based group ended animal control/sheltering contracts with municipalities as well. The group did continue to provide the same services to Escambia County through the end of June.
In months that followed the closing of the shelters, the society received funding that allowed them a three-month reprieve in their sheltering services. That funding is quickly dwindling, and society officials say services may again be in jeopardy.
In other business, the Brewton City Council:
• Accepted a $3,500 check from state Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, for use in city departments. Baker said the money given to the city was from discretionary funds from the general fund of Alabama.
“This money will hopefully be able to fund things for the departments that weren’t in the budget,” Baker said. “I’m happy to do this.” Baker said the funds will be divided among the Brewton Public Library, Brewton Fire Department and Brewton Police Department.
• Approved the request to rezone three residential lots north of The Oaks on U.S. 31. The proposal had been approved by the Planning Commission.
The rezoning will change the property from a residential zone to a general business district.
• Approved a request for a public hearing concerning the change in polling places for District 3 and 4. The polling place for those districts has been at the media center at Brewton Middle School on Liles Boulevard. With the closing of the school, the polling places will be moved. A proposal to move the polling for those districts has been made for the Brewton Community Center located behind Brewton City Hall.
• Approved the purchase of a new pumper truck for the Brewton Fire Department. The cost of the purchase is just over $405,000 with a $47,611 payment per year at a rate of 2.79 percent interest over the course of the 10-year term.