The city of Davenport and the Humane Society of Scott County may continue to work together after all. Following months of negotiations and threats to cancel their long-term relationship, a new agreement will be considered Wednesday night by the city council.
If approved, the Humane Society would provide animal control and shelter services for the next three years, for 350,000 dollars a year.
The previous contract, in effect since 2015, paid 223,000 dollars a year, but this year the society requested a big increase - to 750,000 dollars. The city then threatened to take over the work itself and hire other shelters.
Then finally, earlier this month, they reached a tentative agreement that includes a 57 per cent increase in annual payments to the Humane Society.
City staff also concluded it would cost Davenport more, a lot more than 350,000 dollars a year, to take over animal control, plus renovate space for new employees and buy the necessary equipment.
The new contract also includes new performance and reporting requirements.