Wausau City Hall. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — After nearly an hour of discussion, the Wausau City Council voted down a proposed amendment to the Animal Control Officer staffing, ultimately replacing the full-time position with multiple part-time, non-sworn Community Resource Officers.
The decision came after the department examined the financials around the position, including the loss of $17,000 after the former Everest Metro PD pulled out of an agreement with the city to share the position. That move coincided with the creation of the Mountain Bay Metro PD between the EMPD and Rothschild PD.
Even before the loss of that revenue Alder Lisa Rasmussen noted that the position never reached its full potential. The department was designed to be self-sufficient with animal licensing fees and fines providing the funding. “This was supposed to be an enterprise fund that functions like a business. It has revenue and expenses, but it becomes self-sustaining. That was a promise that was made to the taxpayer. In exchange for license and fine revenue, it would be self-sustaining and would not have continuous, cyclical levy pressure. It never got to that point. It was always infused with cash from the bottom. It never made enough money on its own.”
Rasmussen was one of seven alders voting for the par-time officer plan. Terry Kilian, Gary Gisselman, Lou Larson, and Vicki Tierney provided the no votes with Larson noting that the decision was difficult for him. “I feel the need for a full-time, experienced Humane Officer. If my dog were to get loose I certainly would want somebody with experience to help along with [getting them back.]
“I’ve gotten pulled both ways on this,” added Larson.
Larson provided an amendment that would have funded a full-time position along with some part-time CSO hours to help with off-peak hours. But Rasmussen reminded the Council that in the last few weeks the Humane Officer hasn’t been patrolling. “Patrol and CSO’s have already been [providing those services] for an extended period of time. But for this research we asked for no one noticed. Service wasn’t faltering. They were doing a good job and getting the job done for the citizens and the animals.
“The original plan was designed to serve more than two municipalities. It never grew to that point,” she added.
The plan, as passed, is budget-neutral with the three part-time officers classified as CSO II. They will be required to complete more than 160 hours of training in animal care, handling, and safety along with code enforcement and first-responder duties and field operations. Some of that training will be provided in conjunction with the Humane Society of Marathon County.
The decision came despite support for the full-time position from a former HSMC employee, who spoke during public input, and a letter of support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
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