DALTON, Ga. — Diane Franklin says she is “excited” to be the new Whitfield County Animal Shelter director.

“I’m looking forward to the future,” she said.

The Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Monday night to name Franklin, who had served as interim shelter director since August, as the director. Chairman Lynn Laughter generally votes only in the event of a tie.

“We have been working hard with our rescue groups, trying to do what is best for the animals,” said Franklin.

Commissioners spoke highly of the job Franklin has been doing.

“She has been doing a great job out there. We’ve been really happy with her,” said Commissioner Greg Jones.

Franklin had served as interim director since former director Don Allen Garrett retired in August after 25 years in the position. While Garrett said he had long planned his retirement, he announced he would be leaving just days after the Georgia Department of Agriculture stopped staff at the shelter from euthanizing animals because of questions about the staff’s training.

Franklin served as director of animal control in Murray County from May 2013 to July 2014 and as an administrative assistant/veterinarian technician at the Whitfield County animal shelter from April 1990 to May 2013.

Commissioners named her the sole finalist for the post in December. At the time, Devon Brooks, executive director of the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, said she was happy to hear commissioners had named Franklin as the sole finalist.

“We’ve had a very good relationship with her, and I believe the other rescue groups have as well,” Brooks said. “She has been willing to go the extra mile to work with us. The atmosphere at the shelter has been very welcoming.”

One of the factors commissioners cited when they named Franklin the sole finalist was that the shelter did not have to perform any euthanasia in November. That was cited again by commissioners Monday night.

“We have been pleased with the fact that the euthanization rate has gone down. That has been one of our primary focuses,” said Commissioner Barry Robbins.

Franklin will also serve as the county’s rabies control officer, which she has been doing since being named interim shelter director, for which she will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She will be paid $60,000 a year for both positions.

Commissioners also voted 4-0 to:

• Accept a $140,400 bid from Dalton Fence to replace the fence around Edwards Park pod 1.

• Renew the Spanish interpretation contract for Superior Court for one year with KRNW of Acworth for $83,700.

• Approve a resolution asking the Dalton Building Authority to issue approximately $3 million in bonds to fund a fire station in the south end of the county. The bonds would be repaid from revenues from the county’s special tax district for the fire department.