Sutter County animal shelter entities regroup

Sutter County's board of supervisors and Yuba City's City Council are now weighing in separately on problems that prevent a new regional animal shelter from breaking ground.

The $5 million construction project awaits resolution of an impasse over the transfer of employees from Sutter County to Yuba City, as the torch is passed for management of the shelter-to-be.

Construction of the facility was scheduled to begin late last month.

Meanwhile, the manner in which the two primary government agencies communicate with one another continues as an underlying — and potentially toxic — aspect of the eight-year-long proceedings.

"It appears the City of Yuba City is unwilling to discuss this matter with its own employee union ... rather, they have take the position that such transfer must occur without any discussion with the union on their part," reads a background summary by Shawne Corley, the county's interim administrative officer.

The testy language goes both ways.

"Yuba City may have been well into construction of the new facility if it were not for the recent unsolicited input of the county's legal counsel," reads language in a background summary from Yuba City City Manager Steve Jepsen.

The same memo also takes issue with the county's lack of transparency in addressing the employee-related impasse.

Yuba City is currently committed to 66 percent of operations and construction costs.

Topics for discussion at today's 1 p.m. Sutter Animal Services Authority meeting do not include the employee issues.

The authority, comprised of elected officials and administrators from the city, county, and Live Oak, made their union official a year ago, after a grand jury report brought wretched conditions at the existing animal shelter to light.

Prior to the authority's formation, the three parties had been in talks for more than six years in efforts to build a new shelter.

In the wake of the most recent impasse, a vote by County Supervisors last week proposed changing the ground rules for SASA by keeping the employees on the county's payroll.

Counter-proposals are expected to be considered by the Yuba City City Council on Tuesday.

CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4781.