What began as a request to increase pay for Gratiot County Animal Control Officers developed into a broader discussion during the Sept. 15 Gratiot County Board of Commissioners meeting. The conversation covered department responsibilities, shelter operations, dangerous animals, liability, working conditions and the information commissioners want before approving a pay change.
Animal Control Director Jaime Haase asked that Animal Control Officers be moved from Grade 2 to Grade 7. The county wage schedule effective Oct. 1, 2025 lists Grade 2 starting at $16.71 per hour and Grade 7 at $21.32 per hour. District 2 Commissioner Jan Bunting proposed waiting about six months while the department supplies regular workload reports.
During a discussion about unusual animals, Officer Nathen Lien said he would be willing to take a python home temporarily if the shelter could not safely house it. His answer addressed a hypothetical. The meeting did not establish that he had already taken a python home.
The board did not approve or reject the reclassification during the portion reviewed for this edition. The next records to watch are the requested workload reports, written guidance on unusual animals and foster arrangements, and any proposal returned for a formal vote.
Published clarification: The specific remarks quoted in the newspaper were made by District 2 Commissioner and Vice Chair Jan Bunting. The quotations are retained in the full edition so readers can compare the article with the meeting record.
Read the full two-page report in the newspaper →
