Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Even though aldermen Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with Sangamon County for animal control services, the debate was not devoid of complaints.

“We have substandard enforcement of animal control. Substandard,” said Ald. Roy Williams, repeating his concerns of a week before. “They are not even coming to tell us how many trucks they have, how to improve it, or anything.”

“It’s their job to help educate the community, and that’s just a pet peeve of mine,” added Ald. Lakeshia Purchase. “When we request for someone to come and knowing that it’s kind of like a sticky topic and then they don’t show up, it is just really, really mind-blowing for me sometimes.”

Ald. Erin Conley revived a longstanding complaint. “We do not as a city have a seat on the public health board, and there have been decisions that are being made.”

The contract is worth $538,447.05 and is retroactive to March 1. It expires at the end of the current fiscal year, which has not even six weeks remaining.