Commission addresses animal control leadership change

A change in leadership at St. Joseph County Animal Control was addressed by county commissioner Rick Shaffer last week.
Longtime animal control director Tom Miller retired in October and commissioners have yet to decide whether to replace Miller or follow through on a proposal to fold the agency into the sheriff’s department. It is currently being run by the sheriff’s department on a temporary basis.
Based on Shaffer’s comments, however, it appears the county may stick to the idea of operating animal control under the sheriff’s office.
Shaffer, who also sits on the county’s animal control advisory board, said the committee recently was updated on the situation by member and undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, Sheriff Brad Balk and department supervisor Josh Shook.
Shaffer said he will encourage Balk to attend a future county commission meeting and apprise its members of the situation.