Kane County will form animal control task force

A new task force will help determine the future leadership of Kane County’s Animal Control operations as lingering doubt remains about maintaining the status quo procedure for hiring a director.

Former Animal Control Director Mary Lawrie quit after she was suspended following an internal investigation of an undisclosed nature. County board members on the committee that oversees animal control have said they don’t know the circumstances surrounding her departure.

That mystery, and a desire by some county board members to hire a veterinarian for the position and/or reduce the six-figure potential salary of the office, has created a divide on the county board about how to find Lawrie’s replacement.

Now animal control’s customers will get a say in the matter.

County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay announced Wednesday the formation of a 15-member task force to provide input on hiring a director. She did not announce specific names for the task force. However, its composition will be five county board members, five municipal representatives and five local veterinarians or animal rescue representatives.

“At this point I think it would be helpful to get folks who use our services, as well as people who have expertise in this area, to make a recommendation to the board,” McConnaughay said.

McConnaughay said she envisions the task force functioning much the way a public health board of local medical professionals advises the county’s public health department.

One person not asked to be on the task force so far is Michelle Alexander of the Sita Dog Sanctuary in Yorkville. She has been vocal the past two months about practices in transferring ownership of dogs at animal control to rescue agencies that she believes are illegal. Alexander recently returned $483 the county reimbursed her after giving her a dog with a severe hernia that required surgery. The injury was not disclosed by the county, Alexander has said.

“They cannot pay me money to stop asking questions,” Alexander said in an email interview. “It’s not about money or politics for me.”