News file photo A pair of dogs wait to go outside and play at the Alpena County Animal Control shelter.

ALPENA – Alpena County Commissioners will discuss the hiring and promotion of a shelter manager and an animal control officer tomorrow. Commissioners will vote to either approve or deny the appointment of a full-time shelter manager and an animal control officer.

In a statement from Alpena County Sheriff Erik Smith, he states Alpena County Animal Control Shelter is in need of a full-time shelter manager.

He explained that since December, Amanda Rodriquez has taken on the role of animal control shelter manager following the termination of the previous animal control officer in November.

While the specific reasons for this termination were not disclosed to the public, Smith confirmed it was not due to budget cuts.

“Amanda has worked through numerous issues, always putting the needs of the animals and Alpena County first,” Smith stated.

“During this time, the Sheriff’s Office has continued to answer animal complaints throughout the county,” Smith added. “This has shown that the separation of shelter manager and animal control enforcement has been a step in the right direction. To continue moving forward, we feel that having a full-time shelter manager would be beneficial.”

Currently the shelter manager is a part time position that pays $18 an hour or $28,922 a year. If the transition to a full-time position is approved, the pay per hour would remain $18 an hour, and the yearly salary would elevate to approximately $37,440.

In another statement provided in Tuesday’s meeting packet, Smith addressed the vacated animal control officer position and the challenge of finding a candidate that is MCOLES certified.

“As we move forward with filling our vacated animal control officer position, it has become apparent that finding a MCOLES certified deputy will be difficult,” Smith said.

According to the Michigan.gov, the MCOLES certification is a licensing requirement to work as a law enforcement officer in Michigan. The certification confirms that candidates meet strict employment standards, which includes passing background checks, physical fitness tests, and completing a state-approved police academy.

Smith suggested in his statement that the county should initially hire a non-certified individual.

“The Sheriff’s Office is recommending that we hire a non-certified individual,” Smith said. “We can provide them with the mandated training to allow them to enforce civil infraction violations.”

“They would still need to collaborate with a deputy for misdemeanor and felony offenses,” Smith added in his statement. “It would be the intention of this office to later sponsor the individual selected to a police academy, to become a certified deputy.”

According to Smith’s statement, the position would be a non-union full-time employee, funded through the 2026 budgeted line item for the Animal Control Officer. Smith will recommend a starting hourly rate of $22 an hour, or roughly $45,760 per year.

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.