During their Tuesday meeting, Manhattan City Commissioners unanimously approved a request to allow negotiations with Prairie Paws Animal Shelter, Inc. regarding their interest in taking over operations at the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter.
Commissioner Wynn Butler emphasized this is not an actual agreement but rather approval of continuing negotiations. He said these negotiations are necessary to figure out some smaller details.
City Manager Ron Fehr said there are multiple benefits of contracting out the city’s animal shelter, one of which likely being a decrease in costs.
Butler also noted that Prairie Paws brings other benefits such as an increase in fundraising and an interest in starting other programs such as trap, neuter and return.
Prairie Paws would not be responsible for the animal control services. Animal Control Officers would remain under the city’s purview if the shelter was to be contracted out to a third party.
