The Franklin County Commission voted Monday to hire a full-time animal control officer.

The commission hired Joey Wingo, a communications officer with the sheriff’s department, to serve in the role that has been vacant since former animal control officer Grady Parrish passed away earlier this year.

Wingo was one of 43 applicants for the job and one of eight that interviewed for the position.

The county’s animal control facility came under fire last month from a group of residents concerned about conditions at the shelter. They argued that animals were not receiving the proper care they needed.

In an effort to ease some of those concerns, the commission voted in July to remove a drop-off box that was placed outside the shelter and open for people to drop animals after hours.

Officials said many of those animals were in bad condition when they were left there and many were left by out of county residents. The commission closed the facility to anyone living outside the county.

Probate Judge Barry Moore said he hopes Monday’s hiring of Wingo will be a step in the right direction as far as getting the facility to a level that will be satisfactory for everyone.

“It has always been a priority for the commission, and myself, to make sure that all of the animals are properly taken care of and that we meet all laws at the animal control office,” Moore said.

“Hopefully this will be a big step in correcting any issues that we may have had.”

Monday’s action puts two full-time employees at the animal control office.

In other business, the commission:

• appointed Grant Atkins to the Franklin County archives advisory board

• passed a resolution to award a construction contract on the Harris Lane project

• request bids for janitorial supplies

• request fuel bids

• approved purchase order cut off date of September 9

• appointed Jerry Groce, Mike Vaughn and Charles Smith to the NACOLG board

• voted to advertise for correction/communication officer positions in the sheriff’s department

• voted to reject bids on the solid waste department’s hauling and disposal contract and will seek new bids

• declared a hydro-ax as surplus property in the highway department

and will receive sealed bids on it

• approved a low interest rate quote of 2.8 percent from Valley State Bank on the purchase of a herbicide truck.