WINNSBORO – Fairfield County’s Animal Control department will soon undergo a restructuring process that will divide the department into two separate departments – animal control and the animal shelter. The shelter will continue to include intake and adoption services.
“This restructuring of county operations is an effort to better serve our citizens and accomplish the goals laid out for us,” said Fairfield County Deputy Administrator Jonathan Burroughs during Monday night’s county council meeting.
“Animal control will become a standalone department whose focus will be to enforce the animal care and control ordinances that the county is currently considering,” Burroughs said.
Jo Shaw, who is now the director of animal control and the shelter, will assume responsibility as animal control manager, according to Burroughs.
“The animal shelter will be split from the animal control department,” Burroughs said. “The county will be hiring a new manager and a new staff for the shelter.”
Burroughs also announced that Joey Price, who came to work for the county a year ago and currently serves as emergency management director, has been promoted to director of community and safety services. That will put Price as overseer of the county detention center, animal control, the animal shelter, and emergency management E911. These departments will still have their own department managers, adding another layer of management in the county’s government. These department managers will now report to Price instead of to County Administrator Vic Carpenter.
Price has 35 years’ experience in emergency management service, and has experience in 9-1-1 dispatch, fire, and EMS.
“We look forward to Mr. Price excelling in this new capacity,” Burroughs said.
In addition to changes in animal control, Burroughs also announced that Carnell Robinson, currently the county’s solid waste manager, has been promoted to be director of public works for the county.
