Cherokee County Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city, clearing the way for a much-needed facelift for the animal shelter.

Under the agreement, the city has agreed to pay the entire cost of a proposed addition to the shelter, including construction of an euthanasia room, a minimum of nine additional exterior dog runs and separate areas for cats. The price tag for the upgrades is expected to be $30,000.

In return, the county will assume all operational costs at the consolidated animal shelter, including the salary of the new shelter manager.

Cherokee County Councilman Charles Mathis questioned if the contract should include a starting date for the city's planned upgrades. But Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue said the city has no reason to delay construction because of the favorable terms of the agreement.

If problems do arise, there is a 90-day termination clause, councilman Quay Little noted. Gaffney City Council gave its unanimous approval to the contract on Oct. 6.

The city also is responsible for the costs of any major structural repairs and the installation of a heating/cooling system, under the contract. The city also must bear the cost to roof the addition.

But the city relinquishes control of the shelter to the county as well as all the costs associated with operating the shelter, under the 10-year deal.

That is considered a key concession by the county since the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating to determine if animal control officers violated state animal cruelty laws. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from local animal shelter volunteers who claimed county animal control officers violated state law by failing to fully sedate animals prior to euthanizing them.

Under the contract, the city-paid animal control officer would only be responsible for transporting animals to the shelter.

The contract stipulates the city will lease the animal shelter property to the county for an annual fee of $1.

The new agreement overrides an earlier deal that created the consolidated animal shelter in the early 1990s. Under that agreement, the city paid the utility bills and shared in the cost of the supplies.