Sangamon County IL Committee to Consider Animal Control Review

The Sangamon County Public Health Committee will consider on Thursday entering into a contract with a familiar third-party group to conduct a “top-down” review of animal control policies and procedures.

Allegations of misconduct have been raised in recent months by local animal rights groups and members of Springfield City Council.

The committee will specifically consider a review conducted by Stratton, Moran, Reichert, Sronce & Appleton with a price not exceeding $ 24,000. The main job would be done by Joe Roesch, a labor attorney who previously served in the Sangamon County Sheriff‘s Office as the chief deputy and captain of investigations.

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The request comes as the county awaits a report from Illinois State Police regarding criminal negligence and another third-party report from a Chicago consultancy that examines the structure of other animal control agencies in counties similar in size to Sangamon County.

County administrator Brian McFadden conceded that there needed to be a thorough review of policies and procedures that would include employment and work management issues, but could lead to areas such as caregiving. accommodation.

“We clearly believe that there are policies that need to be reviewed,” McFadden said, joined Wednesday. “There are issues and allegations that need to be looked at and other things that need attention and this is the best way to get there now.”

The allegations followed reports of dead cats that were in the care of Animal Control. The cats died from upper respiratory infections, county officials previously said.

Others, like Jane McBride, president of the Illinois Humane Society in Springfield, have protested against Animal Control director Gregory Largent and insisted that the office be moved from public health to the sheriff’s office.

“I’ve been telling them that for three or four years,” McBride said. “The biggest problem is management and leadership and that’s what Jack is good at, and I hope Joe Roesch knows that and sees it.”

McFadden said Roesch would have up to six months to review things that would start with some type of work management orientation.

Following this, McFadden said, would implement any changes or modifications to policies and procedures. The last step would be to monitor any changes, he added.

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“He has the power to look at things that he deems relevant to the (office) mission,” McFadden added. “He’s not sent there to run the agency, but he’s sent there to do a very thorough review and look at the policies and procedures and some of the allegations that are being made.”

Animal Control has 13 employees and a temporary worker with a budget of $ 1.13 million, Sangamon County spokesperson Jeff Wilhite said.

McBride said she was frustrated that another third party is looking at animal control “especially as the county has been given information on where to get a proper consultation on running a shelter. is not a local law firm. It is in these professional organizations. They ‘They were given a lot of resources if they felt they needed to bring in third parties. They have an urgent situation and they are not responding .

“I think of the world of (Joe Roesch) and if he can help with his law enforcement knowledge, that’s great. Animal care is paramount and it’s an immediate concern.”

McBride said other shortcomings include issues with sanitation, ventilation and the way the animals are managed once they enter the shelter.

McFadden said he was convinced that the shelter “is not the train wreck that some people want to describe. We think there are policy issues, there are other things that need to be done. attract attention. The department has passed several snap inspections (by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Department of Occupational Regulation). “

McFadden said there didn’t appear to be “much interest from the board of directors in moving him to the sheriff’s office,” but he was keen to review a report being written by Chicago’s MGT Consulting Group. . This report comparatively examines how other central Illinois animal shelters are operated and by whom.

Sheriff Jack Campbell said he spoke to McFadden about the surveillance issue and contacted Macon County about its setup and what it could mean for its staff.

“My path is law enforcement for people,” Campbell admitted. “It’s a more specialized field. It’s something that I don’t feel 100% comfortable with taking on these additional tasks.”

Campbell, who has known Roesch for over 25 years, said his experience speaks for itself.

“He’s an experienced administrator and investigator, so I think he’ll be able to help Animal Control revise these policies, helping them in any way they need to,” Campbell said.

International Union of Workers of North America Local 477 trade manager Brad Schaive also said the county appealing to Roesch would be beneficial.

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The local represents nine of Animal Control’s employees.

“Our working relationship with this law firm has been impeccable,” said Schaive. “Joe Roesch is very familiar with labor relations issues. I think it will be good for the taxpayer, good for the unit and good for the employees.

“There has been a list of concerns that have been raised (by employees) over the past six months. What the county is doing to address it and ask this law firm to send someone in and assessing where we are and how we got there is a great idea. “

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, [email protected], twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

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