BRANCH COUNTY — A revolt by Branch County 911 dispatchers has county commissioners considering hiring two contract traveling dispatchers to help man the 24-hour service for six months until permanent employees can be hired and trained.
911 Director Bob Swick said dispatchers warned, “Something needs to happen quickly or I’m going to lose more.” He said dispatchers told him, “I can’t do it anymore,” working the current schedule.
The Branch County 911 board Wednesday recommended hiring temporary contract dispatchers for six months.
Swick told his board Wednesday that his dispatchers worked 12-hour shifts, 432 hours a month, for the last year to cover the daily service.
Employees must work 96 hours in one two-week pay period and 120 hours in the second pay period.
Because of high turnover, there are currently only five full-time staff with one coming off training.
Since the beginning of the year, 911 staff have received 97 applications. All of them received tests, and 36 took the tests. Of those, the administration interviewed 23 people. Nine received job offers, but they couldn’t complete the hiring process.
Down to five, one must pass a physical, and four must begin training next week.
Swick said, “We had three in this last group. We ended up with one. They don’t make it through the process for one reason or another,” and stay in the highly stressful job.
With a $100,000 annual overtime budget, 911 paid $30,866 overtime in January.
Swick located a Colorado company that provides temporary employees trained on the system Branch County uses who will move here and work under contract.
The director explained, “All they have to learn is our location, our radio CAD system, our radio tones. That would get us back to a regular schedule for six months while we try to get these others trained.”
Prior storyBranch County 911 faces staffing crisis
The 911 board recommended that the county commission approve a six-month $144,600 contract after staff performs “due diligence” by randomly checking with other jurisdictions to ensure the company delivers as promised.
Representative Jennifer Marshall, who appeared by Zoom, said the company, Rescue 911, received its first contract in June 2024.
Marshall said, “We find travelers that have experience in your particular systems and your protocols.”
The one fee covers all costs for the traveling dispatchers who move into the community.
County Administrator Frank Walsh said 911 services are essential services the government must provide.
The commission could approve the contract at its Feb. 25 meeting.
A survey of other dispatch centers shows that Branch County’s starting pay, $50,688, is the lowest in the region.
The county’s seven union contracts are up for negotiation this year.
https://www.thedailyreporter.com/story/news/local/2025/02/13/branch-county-considers-contract-dispatchers-to-help-staff-911-service/78464515007/
