The county board of commissioners has voted unanimously to remove animal operations from the public health department and to create a separate agency for animal control.

The vote followed a presentation by Angela Zumwalt of the Moore County Citizens' Pet Responsibility Committee, which took place during Tuesday's regular meeting of the county board.

"We bring this proposal to you based on the experience of our staff and appropriate research, and after consultation with Commissioner Jimmy Melton, our liaison to the county board," Zumwalt said. "We request that a separate animal operations department be created with its own 12-member advisory board. This will result in expected benefits such as a reduction in the number of animals that require sheltering and euthanasia at considerable cost to the county, and in greater budgetary independence for the agency."

Commissioners' Chairman Nick Picerno emphasized that no financial impact would occur with the transfer.

"They are simply moving," he said. "There is no increase or decrease, and this is not creating more expense."

In other news, the board formally recognized outgoing Moore County Property Management Director Rich Smith for his "spirit of excellence" in overseeing construction of the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center in Carthage.

"I always thought the Lord sent Rich Smith for a reason," said Commissioner Larry Caddell. "I can't begin to tell you how much money he saved the taxpayers of this county."

Read more in Friday's edition of the Pilot.