Over the last year, the DeWitt County Public Safety Committee has discussed ending the current intergovernmental agreements, or IGAs, with the County's municipalities to provide Animal Control services. 

At August's County Board Meeting, Public Safety Chair Megan Meyers brought forward the motion to serve notice to the municipalities of the end of these IGAs. The County wants to renegotiate the current agreements and hopes that the local townships will be willing to do so as well. 

Board Chair Joe Witte expressed his concerns about not having enough time to negotiate with the municipalities before the current agreements are set to expire on December 1st. 

State's Attorney Dan Markwell noted that all three of the IGAs between Wapella, Farmer City, and Clinton are identical and only address dogs running at large. He shares why the IGAs were created in the first place.

Markwell adds that ordinances do not do any good if they are not being enforced with citations. He requested to be provided with the number of calls that Animal Control responded to, compared to the number of tickets written. 

Myers adds that much of the language is outdated, and that could be altered when the IGAs are renegotiated. Ultimately, the board voted unanimously in favor of giving notice to the municipalities that the current IGAs are ending, and they would like to renegotiate.