PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown Executive Director Rachel Buchanan tells Marshall County Supervisors Steve Salasek and Jarret Heil about what would be good to include in a contract between the organization and the county.

A new contract between the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Marshalltown and Marshall County was given approval to be written by the Board of Supervisors at the regular meeting on Wednesday with hopes that it will be ready by the next meeting on June 21.

Board Chairman Jarret Heil said the ARL approached the county regarding a contract which had been in place since 2009. After discussing the matter with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and reviewing animal control contracts of other towns and counties, Heil said he would like to see a couple updates, which would resolve some inconsistencies.

“I know the first two things in the contract I would like to see changed is when there is a pickup, the current minimum rate is $15 and 50 cents for mileage. I would like to see that changed to a $25 minimum and just have it in the contract where it’s consistent with the current IRS rate, so that when it changes, it just stays current with whatever that rate is,” Heil said. “Number two, I’d like to see the portion that our sheriff or deputy would be able to make that call when an animal pickup is required, and it doesn’t have to go through a board of supervisor member in those situations.”

Animal Rescue League Executive Director Rachel Buchanan agreed with Heil’s suggested changes, and had some of her own, which she said she would like to see added immediately. She said she would like to include that the ARL does not respond to after hours calls unless it is an emergency.

“We, first and foremost, serve Marshalltown. We are the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, and I only have one animal control officer currently on call,” Buchanan said. “I cannot serve Marshalltown at the same time I am serving the county.”

On average, the ARL gets seven to 10 calls every two weeks to which the animal control officer responds. Buchanan stressed that she is more than happy to dispatch someone for an emergency, but requested they not be dispatched after hours and said the ARL does have a specific drop off location for law enforcement after hours.

Heil asked if the ARL has received a lot of calls after hours, and Buchanan told him there have been a couple, primarily for animal pickup and those times were not considered emergencies. Another change Buchanan would like to see is the ARL would be allowed to pick up dead stray pets in order to hold them until the owner is found.

“PIcking up deceased animals in the county helps remove the animal from the side of the road and also, if there is an owner looking for it, helps us to reunite them with their pet sooner,” she said.

Buchanan also requested yearly compensation be discussed during the next fiscal year. Since 2009, Marshall County has paid the ARL $7,250 per year for services.

Heil said he would like to have a mayors meeting to discuss ARL to ensure there is no overlap of services between the towns and Marshall County.

“Just to make sure we have a good framework for animal control in the county, and that all of our towns are in a consistent consensus agreement that there is adequate coverage,” he said.

During a previous meeting, the supervisors learned that 97 stray animals were brought into the ARL from Marshall County outside of the Marshalltown city limits in 2022.

In other business:

As part of the new Home Base Iowa program, the supervisors approved a relocation incentive of at least $2,000 to be given to veterans to move to and live in Marshall County, beginning July 1. The county could pair the incentive with the Chamber’s $10,000 housing incentive, according to Heil. Auditor Nan Benson asked if it was intended for only eight of the incentives be available, for a total of $16,000. Heil said it is just to start the program and see where it goes.

“We want more veterans here. We want more people here. It’s a promotion of growth,” Heil said. “It’s a small token of appreciation for veterans who have sacrificed a lot for us, our safety and our country.”

Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Hall said the incentive is in line with what was discussed, and what other counties are doing. He said Marshall County has distinct incentives which are desirable and set them apart. He said it also falls in line with the retail and restaurant grant incentive for new businesses.

Hall hopes the county attracts the beginning eight veterans and stated it would be great to run out of money for this endeavor.

The supervisors determined signs should be placed in the parking lot by the Masonic Temple. Vehicles not driven by county employees have been getting stickers to notify drivers they should no longer park there during business hours — 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, chronic parking offenders will be tracked, and possibly facing towing beginning July 1. With the 58 parking spots in the Masonic lot, and others around the Marshall County Courthouse, Marshall County Building and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke told the supervisors there are enough spots for everyone working in the building, plus six extras.

The supervisors discussed the placement of a stop sign for south-bound traffic at the intersection of Eastman Avenue and 230th Street in State Center. The matter has been tabled to ensure the county and the City of State Center agree.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at

41-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.