By Steve Bell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-989814.mp3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A city council committee has advanced a plan to hire new management for the Kansas City animal shelter, but more changes may be necessary before it can pass the full council.
Kansas City Pet Project would run the shelter, replacing a previous group whose contract was not renewed after complaints about conditions. But Councilwoman Jan Marcason is concerned that $300,000 for the new organization would come from the contingency fund, which she says would endanger snow-removal services if it's a rough winter, and comes at a very bad time.
Marcason says the expense for a contractor is hard to justify when city employees haven't had a raise for two years and a hiring freeze has just gone into effect.
The city manager imposed that hiring freeze Wednesday as revenue collections slipped a little.
The committee endorsed the animal shelter ordinance but asked city staff to come up with a plan that relies less on the contingency fund.