SCBC approve intergovernmental agreement with City for Animal Control Officer

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement between the County and City of Toccoa to hire an Animal Control Officer.

During its meeting on Tuesday, County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained to the commission that if it approved the intergovernmental agreement then both the County and City would split the cost to hire an Animal Control Officer.

The agreement would authorize the County to advertise and hire an Animal Control Officer with POST Certification, who will report to the Stephens County Marshal.

County Commissioner James Addison asked if the City of Toccoa had approved their part of the agreement; but, Ayers explained that the Toccoa City Commission would meet next week to approve its portion of the agreement.

“Phyllis, do you know if the city approved this last night or not,” Addison asked.

“They do not have their Monday meeting until next week, so we will be ahead of them. But, I did speak to the City Manager and he felt like it was going to not have any more issues,” Ayers said.

Addison then asked what would happen if the City ended up not approving the agreement.

County Attorney Brian Ranck explained that if the City did not approve the agreement, then the County’s portion would be null and void.

“Yeah, James, we wouldn’t have a binding agreement without their acceptance of it as well,” Ranck said.

After receiving clarification, Addison made a motion approving the intergovernmental agreement with Commissioner Michelle Ivester seconding the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.