By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
The consultant operational assessment for the Salina Animal Shelter is still awaiting completion, after well over 2 months since its approval.
Back in May, after a 4-1 Salina Commissioner vote, a $30,000 consultant agreement was approved for Animal Shelter Services, LLC to perform an operational assessment on the shelter.
Read more: Consultant agreement approved for operational assessment on Salina Animal Shelter
The final report from the consultant has not yet been provided.
However, during discussions between city staff and representatives of the consultant, several operational challenges and areas of concern were identified.
According to the city, they believe it may be difficult to hire an experienced animal services manager who could address the identified challenges while also achieving the city’s desired objectives for operating an efficient and effective shelter.
The full report from Animal Shelter Services, LLC is expected to be available within the next two weeks or earlier.
Commissioner Doug Rempp said volunteers would be back if a private organization partners with the city's shelter.
A volunteer from Prairie Paws said Brandon Sokol, Director of the Manhattan location, would love to operate the Salina Animal Shelter.
Rempp said he has met Sokol and said he is an “outstanding man.”
A 3-1 vote was approved to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the operation of the animal shelter, which would be finalized following the consultant’s completion of the operational assessment.
Before that, Rempp motioned to make an immediate RFP before the consultant’s assessment was completed, but no second was made.