Bradley County Commissioner Ed ElkinsCLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Bradley County Commission will vote Monday whether enter into a two-year agreement with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County to provide for its animal control needs.
In a recent meeting, the county’s animal control ad hoc committee voted 4-0 to recommend the SPCA of Bradley County as a private-sector solution for picking up and sheltering county animals.
“I think this is a pilot [project] in the true sense of the term,” said J. Adam Lowe, vice chairman of the commission.
The committee has been reviewing proposals submitted by The Ark of Cleveland and the SPCA of Bradley County since September. The Ark requested $240,000 in annual support from the county; the SPCA requested $80,000 in annual support.
“I’ve looked over all the numbers and got all the external comments and everything, and I see no reason to not go with the lowest-cost proposal, which would be SPCA,” said Commissioner Ed Elkins, who serves on the ad hoc panel.