The Fulton County Commission rejected a motion on Wednesday to resume animal control services for the city of Atlanta without a contract because it would expose the county to liability.
“On April 10, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to continue its suspension of animal control services within the city limits of Atlanta until Fulton County is provided with a fully executed intergovernmental agreement,” a county spokesperson told Rough Draft in a statement on Thursday.
County Attorney Soo Jo confirmed during the commissioners’ meeting on April 10 that the Georgia Constitution does not allow counties to provide animal control services without a contract. The county provided those services from January until April 5 at 5 p.m.
County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said he and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens have had several discussions about an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would be a contract between the two governments.
The city called the county’s vote to end services a political move. Also on Wednesday, county commissioners said a claim that the county owed $5.7 million in unpaid water bills was also political.
But when Dickens promised to provide a letter of intent to enter an IGA, Pitts said he held off on that action until the county attorney said the letter was not a binding document.
“Fulton County remains open to continuation of services when a signed agreement intergovernmental agreement is provided,” a county spokesperson said in a statement on April 11.
The county calculated Atlanta’s charge for animal control services at $6 million based on the city generating 55 percent of all calls.
Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. made a motion to restore animal control services for the city of Atlanta effective immediately.
“My understanding is we have a signed letter of intent that will be presented to the city of Atlanta at their next council meeting,” he said.
Arrington said he wanted to save lives and not have dogs running loose because of no animal control services. When Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman interrupted Arrington, the two got into a shouting match and he briefly left the meeting.
Abdur-Rahman said Atlanta missed its deadlines on returning an IGA to the county. She questioned what kind of message it would send to the other 14 cities that have approved IGAs with the county for animal control services if Atlanta didn’t agree to the same stipulations.
“What message does this body send the other 14 cities when it comes to fair play, when it comes to contracts? When it comes to doing what is right?” she asked.
The commissioners rejected restoring animal control services to Atlanta with four commissioners against and three for the measure.
“I just pray no one gets hurt. I just pray no one dies,” Arrington said.
The Atlanta City Council’s next scheduled meeting is April 15, but it’s unclear if the animal control issue will be on the agenda.
Pitts said the city council could approve an IGA as a resolution during that meeting. But if it is presented as an ordinance, it will require two meetings. That would push approval back to May 6 at the earliest.
“The City continues to encourage residents to call 311 for animal services in the absence of Fulton County providing services and call 911 for emergency situations,” a city of Atlanta spokesperson told Rough Draft Atlanta.
Dyana Bagby contributed to this report.