CLEARFIELD -- The city is paying more for animal control partly because more people are calling about nuisance animals.
Police Chief Greg Krusi told the city council on Tuesday there were 2,480 phone calls for service last year, an 8.25 percent increase from the previous year.
"We didn't anticipate this increase," Krusi said. "But the county has to pass on their costs to us."
Davis County provides animal control services for Clearfield. The current contract, which runs until 2014, provides for an annual review and adjustment of the compensation amount for the services.
Tuesday night, the city council unanimously passed the amendment adjusting the amount for the services. The city has been paying the increased rate since January.
Clearfield will pay $74,303.67 for all animal care services provided and performed by the county. This excludes picking up and euthanizing wild nuisance animals, such as raccoons or skunks that are trapped by residents. The city paid $68,166.71 last year.
Clearfield will pay in monthly installments of $6,191.97, which started January 2010.
The county also submits monthly invoices for any itemized costs for other services. It will cost the city an estimated $2,008.50 for nuisance animal pickup annually.
Councilwoman Kathryn Murray said she was concerned with the contract.
"I know it would be expensive to take this on ourselves," she said of switching to a city-run animal control. "But my concern is with the consistency of enforcement. They keep raising the rate, so we need consistency with ordinance enforcement."
Krusi said there have been concerns that the limit of two dogs per household has not been enforced. He said there are other ordinance issues as well, but that is the main concern.
He told city officials that they will discuss these concerns with the animal control providers. Krusi said the city wants to enforce not just the excess number of animals, but any city statue.
The new rate will run through 2010 and will be reconsidered in 2011.
"We hope there won't be an increase in 2011," Krusi said. "Maybe we can even have a decrease."
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