Island County’s animal-control services as of Oct. 1 will be delivered by a county employee rather than an independent contractor, in an arrangement finalized Tuesday by the county commissioners.

The board agreed to terminate a contract with Carol Barnes on Sept. 30 and to appoint her as the county’s full-time animal-control supervisor the next day. She will report to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

There will be no interruption of services, and the change will cost the county no additional money, the commissioners said.

Barnes, who currently serves as an animal-control officer on Whidbey, has “a vast amount of experience,” said county budget director Elaine Marlow on Tuesday. In addition to continuing to provide that service, she will oversee a part-time animal-control officer on Camano.

Advertising for the part-time position could begin as early as next month, Marlow said.

Making the animal-control officers county employees helps avoid tax-liability problems, because using contractors poses the risk that the IRS will view them as employees, depending in part on the degree of control the county exercises over them, Marlow has said.

It also helps make the positions more attractive, she said. Many people would rather be county employes than having to run their own business as an independent contractor, she said.

Camano Island has lacked an animal-control officer for the past three years.

Barnes’ position will pay between $19.42 and $23.32 an hour, said county Human Resources director Melanie Bacon. The part-time position will pay between $16.36 and $19.64 per hour.

Animal-shelter contracts will continue to be overseen by the county’s General Services Administration.