At last Thursday’s Pell City Council meeting, the council approved a committee of six or seven to become the city’s Animal Control Task Force Committee. This committee’s function is to accept public complaints concerning the Animal Shelter of Pell City Inc.

The protests are to be discussed and brought before the council if resolutions on issues are not met.

Council President James McGowan brought the discussion of the committee to the table at Thursday’s work session, which was held prior to the meeting. McGowan said that the council had kicked the idea of an animal control committee around for a while.  He said that he believed the committee to be pertinent because of the complaints that the city has received pertaining to the animal shelter.

McGowan said that this committee would be comprised of individuals who the council has nominated: Larry Chasteen, DVM; William Hereford; Sylvia Martin; Kenneth McMillan, DVM; Terry Templin; and Sharon Thomas. Also on the committee, if he so desires, will be Galen Sims, DVM.

 McGowan assured those in attendance that the committee would be made aware of what their duties will be. Mayor Joe Funderburg said that the committee would work primarily along side the shelter to resolve issues, but he also promised that they were not going to come in and tell the shelter how to run its business.

Funderburg said that to this point, he believes that the problem has been a communication issue. He said he is very hopeful that the formation of this committee will resolve that. “This council does not want to go into the animal business,” said Funderburg. “But we also hate that the people in the city have so many complaints about the shelter.

Funderburg also included that while complaints will be sent formally to the committee, the council will still be involved. “This will just take the council out of the shelter’s day to day business,” said Funderburg.

In other news:

-The council approved an agreement with the Pell City Board of Education regarding fire and emergency services training. Fire Chief Mike Burdett was at the meeting to discuss the agreement. “It’s new, and we’re probably going to hit some road bumps,” said Burdette. “But I think we’re up to the challenge.”

– Mayor Funderburg spoke at the end of the council’s work session. He shared that Pell City has been recognized as one of the 10 best cities for industrial development.  “We’re very proud of that,” said Funderburg. “ I know this council works hard to keep that standard.