The Stark County Commission on Sept. 4 approved a request to provide a formal letter of support for adding two dispatchers at the Dickinson area 9‑1‑1 consolidated dispatch center, citing high call complexity and recurring minimum-staff days.

Lieutenant Mike Hanel of the Dickinson Police Department said the PSAP typically operates with three dispatchers on day shift and two on night shift but has been at minimum staffing levels on most days; he reported the center was at minimum staffing on 22 of 31 days in July. Hanel and other public-safety officials described increased workload from language-translation needs, Internet-of-things sensor calls, and prolonged multi-agency events that stretch staffing.

Commissioners and the sheriff discussed a recent extended incident and said extra staff would reduce operational risk. The commission approved a motion for a formal letter of support to accompany budget requests; commissioners noted the anticipated county share of the two positions would be approximately $58,000 for 2026 (preliminary estimate), with the city covering the remainder under the intergovernmental staffing split.

The commission also directed staff to include the staffing request in the county 2026 budget process. The dispatch center will continue recruitment and training; commissioners emphasized the need to fill vacancies quickly and to report back on hiring and onboarding timelines.

Next steps: the county will provide a letter of support to the city, include the request in the 2026 budget discussions and monitor hiring progress and training timelines at the PSAP.