Espanola council has approved two contracts as part of the transition from municipal to Ontario provincial policing.

They approved the hiring of Rainbow District Animal Control for the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019.

Councillor Ron Duplessis says council was kind of caught short and didn’t have much alternatives since OPP will not enforce such bylaws.

Councillor Bill Foster says the OPP would do it, but that would increase calls for service and that could be costly.

Foster added council will now have time to look at alternatives for 2020.

Still with council, they also approved the OPP being contacted through 911 call out for services from public works if needed.

The approvals come 48 hours before OPP are set to take over policing in Espanola.