Kane County Animal Control chief quits after three months
By Matt Brennan For The Beacon-News May 30, 2012 11:22AM
Veterinarian Kimberly Rudloff, administrator of Kane County Animal Control, plays with momma kitty to the first litter of the year. Mary Beth Nolan~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: July 6, 2012 9:03AM
GENEVA — The search for a new Kane County animal control director, and the troubles that have plagued the department over recent years, continue.
Newly appointed Director Kimberly Rudloff submitted a letter of resignation on Tuesday. She just started working for the department in February.
Rudloff did not give a reason for leaving, Health Department Director Paul Kuehnert said.
Rudloff was hired at an annual salary of $88,000. She was a veterinarian and administrator, and allowed the county to not have to contract outside the department for veterinary services.
Kuehnert said that the animal control subcommittee led by Bonnie Kunkel, D-Aurora, would reconvene to recommend another qualified person from their recent search for a new director. The subcommittee has a meeting to discuss personnel scheduled from 10:45 a.m. Friday at the County Government Center.
From there they will work to bring in new candidates, and come to consensus for a board recommendation, Kuehnert said. The Health Department oversees the Animal Control Department.
Kuehnert also is leaving the county — his last day on the job is Friday. He recently resigned to accept a position outside the county.
In the interim, Kuehnert said that they have notified veterinarian Jane Davis, who will again provide contractual veterinarian services to the county. State statutes require the county to have a veterinarian to handle dog and cat issues, Kuehnert said.
Before Rudloff, the department had been without a permanent executive director for more than a year. The Animal Control Department has been bogged down with financial troubles. The department is behind on entering vaccination records, and is not collecting fine revenues because of the backlog.
The department has asked the County Board Public Health and Finance committees for permission to delay this year’s $153,000 loan repayment for the new animal control facility in Geneva.
The Public Health Committee also recently discussed whether to continue having Animal Control handle some of the county’s property complaints. Animal Control spends about $24,000 a year handling property complaints, according to Finance Committee Director Jim Mitchell, R-North Aurora.
Public Health member Melisa Taylor said Wednesday she was shocked to hear about the resignation of Rudloff so soon after taking the position.
