The Marshall County Administration Building
By Patty Blackburn
Three Marshall County Departments moved into the recently renovated building where the Marshall County Health Department was located for over 50 years. March 3, 2025, 206 Legion Avenue, became the new address for the Building and Codes Department, Probation Office, and Animal Control.
Marshall County Building and Codes is located in Suite A. The purpose of Marshall County Building Codes is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through affordability, structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment, and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.
Employees in this department are: Clint Williams, Building Official/Codes Officer; Matt Middleton, Asst. Building Official/Codes Officer; Jackson Coward, Inspector; Trina Rios, Office Manager, and Kristen Hazel, Administrative Assistant.
Photo by Amala Taylor
The Marshall County Probation Office is located in Suite B. This department has the responsibility of ensuring that probationers comply with the conditions of court-ordered probation. This department handles misdemeanor criminal offenses which carry a maximum jail sentence and probation term of 11 months and 29 days per offense. While working toward that goal, the department’s efforts are spent making the community a safer place to live.Under the program, probationers may be required to complete treatment programs such as intensive alcohol and drug treatment, anger management and batterer’s intervention. Probationers may also be required to participate in self-help groups, undergo alcohol/drug testing, pay restitution to victims and perform community service work.Probation officers take an active, hands on approach to facilitating the satisfactory completion of probation. Anger management classes, DUI School and other required intervention classes will be taught in the conference room.
Linda Bassham is the Director; Amala Taylor is the Mental Health Court Case Manager; Greg Blair is the Probation Officer; Jeff Kerby is the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist/Moral Recognition Therapist; Tawanda Murray is the Certified Peer Recovery – Mental Health Recovery Educator.
In Suite C is the Animal Control office and Jason Williams is the Director. Often referred to as the “dog pound,” this clean facility/shelter is open to the public.
A countywide leash law has been in effect for several years. The law requires that an animal be confined to its owner’s property. Outside the property, the animal must be on a leash. A dog with a vicious nature such as a Doberman or pit bull must be muzzled when walked on a leash. If an animal control officer gets a complaint about a stray dog, the officer will pick up the dog and hold it for at least three days. During this three day period, the officer will try to find the dog’s owner. If the dog is not claimed in three or four days, it will be considered “adoptable” as long as it has no serious diseases.
Cats are not picked up or housed for adoption. Please do not abandon your cats or kittens at the animal shelter. The dog adoption fee is a mandatory one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), which covers the cost of three shots and spaying/neutering. If the dog has already been spayed or neutered, the fee will be reduced to twenty-five dollars ($25). An adopter will receive a voucher which can be carried to a local veterinarian who will perform the necessary procedures on the dog. The voucher is good for one month.Unfortunately, many animals are never adopted. A local veterinarian is paid to put these animals to sleep in a humane way. For animal control services or more information on a dog adoption, please contact Animal Control. They want to enforce the law, but they also want to see pets returned to their owners.
