By Jason Deal
News Editor
The county will begin charging $200 to bury large farm and non-farm animals under a proposal given tentative approval at Tuesday night’s commission meeting.
Commissioners agreed to have an ordinance drafted spelling out the county’s policy for animal burials.
County Chairman Neal Bennett reported the county receives 2-3 requests each year to bury large animals that have died. Bennett said all requests so far have been for horses, but cows will also be included in the ordinance.
Bennett pointed out most farmers have the means to bury large animals. He pointed out two recent exceptions with horses. One of the horses was in the middle of a subdivision/residential area.
Under the proposal, the county would handle burials if the animal’s owner had no equipment to handle the job themselves. The work would also be done during the county’s normal operating hours.
Fourth district commissioner David Lowman said he likes the fact the county has been offering the burials as a community service to residents.
County attorney Franklin Rozier Jr. and County Manager Chuck Scragg both pointed out, however, that county equipment cannot be used to help specific residents with burials if it does not do so for all residents. The State of Georgia requires a fee be charged to all residents uniformly for any service offered.
Scragg said a cost analysis was done for the service in Brantley County taking in to consideration use of the county’s equipment, hours of work, diesel fuel usage and labor of two employees for the burial.
Brantley County charges $400 for the service. Scragg said that fee is similar to those charged in other counties for burial services.
County Road Superintendent Bruce Carter said he would like to continue offering it as a service to county residents.
“We can’t just leave the dead animal there to rot if people can’t afford to pay the fee,” he said.
Rozier said United States Department of Agriculture policy would require the bodies of animals be disposed of so they would not create a public health threat.
He also pointed out the policy could be waived in the event of a natural disaster or a livestock disease outbreak.
While the policy specifically references farm animals such as cows and horses, Lowman and third district commissioner Randy Dixon asked for clarification on what a non-farm animal might be.
“I suppose it might mean giraffes,” said Dixon.
“Or an elephant,” quipped Lowman.
Scragg is to draft and present a proposed policy at the January meeting.
