GENEVA – Robert Sauceda is among Kane County government's newest hires, taking over a position that County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said needed to be filled urgently.

Sauceda has taken up a temporary position as a billing manager in the county's animal control department to collect unpaid bills. Lauzen said Sauceda officially was hired about three weeks ago and since has helped collect about $34,000 in unpaid bills.

Lauzen said three previous animal control directors, who have either resigned or been replaced, failed to collect those bills, which he said has resulted in expensive consequences for taxpayers. The lack of billing management caused the county to subsidize its animal control shelter for $45,000, he said, and the administration also missed a $93,000 mortgage payment.