FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Despite a fiery and passionate call to restore animal control services in Atlanta, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted against it on Wednesday.
The county announced last Friday that its agreement to provide animal control services to cities within the county expired at the end of 2023. Since then, a new agreement was put in place, which commissioners said Atlanta was the only city that currently hasn't signed.
Services to the city were stopped on April 5 after officials said the county had been operating out of good faith efforts for more than three months without a signed intergovernmental agreement in place.
On Wednesday, county commissioners expressed differing views on whether the stopped services to Atlanta should be resumed. For instance, Commissioner Marvin Arrington was one of three commissioners who wanted to restart the services for the city. He said the issue at hand is about saving lives.
"I just pray no one gets hurt. I just pray no one dies. Right is right, and wrong is wrong," Arrington said. "But life is life."
Shortly thereafter, things got heated as the conversation turned into a yelling match with Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman.
"Shut up. Shut up. I'm talking," Arrington said.
"You're not talking to me. Make me," Abdur-Rahman said.
"This is my time," Arrington stated.
Despite the debate, the county attorney said it's against the state of Georgia's constitution for a county to provide services within a city without a contract, and it was overall voted not to restore the services until a signature is given.
In terms of the new agreement, Pitts previously explained to 11Alive that it has been in discussion since July 2023 and included a cost increase to cover inflation and operational costs. He added that Fulton County does not pocket any of the money.
Pitts said in the agreement that expired on Dec. 31, 2023, the City of Atlanta paid about $2.5 million. He said the new agreement, which started on Jan. 1, 2024, would require the city to pay around $6 million.
The City of Atlanta said when it comes to animal services, residents should call 311 for minor matters and 911 for emergencies. Officials claimed in a statement last week that the county had backed out on a tentative agreement that had been reached to provide services to Atlanta. The statement also called out other issues, implying that the city would not react in the same manner when it's operating under "good faith" negotiations.
111Alive has been told that the City of Atlanta has signed a letter of intent, which is essentially a promise to sign the new contract. However, it could take until May before a new contract is signed.
Check out the full video of the commissioners' discussion below: