LaSalle County’s Salary and Labor Committee on Aug. 27 heard a request from Diana Stiles, the county 9‑1‑1 director, to allow hiring up to three part‑time telecommunicators to reduce sustained overtime and burnout among dispatch staff. Stiles told the committee that in the last seven months dispatchers logged 1,851 hours of overtime, costing about $77,503, and that roughly 40 overtime shifts scheduled through Sept. 15 would add about $5,000 in overtime costs.

Stiles said the part‑time hires would be experienced, nonbenefited telecommunicators paid an hourly rate and used only as needed to cover vacations, sick leave and other absences. “They can help cover unexpected absences, reducing reliance on costly overtime and avoiding burnout among employees,” Stiles said. She said part‑timers would be offered vacancies before external recruitment when possible and proposed a starting hourly wage of $23.21 with no insurance or paid leave.

The committee discussed staffing and training challenges in the dispatch center. Stiles said dispatch training is lengthy and that about one‑third of trainees do not complete the program. She noted comp‑time balances are paid out annually in November and are not included in her overtime totals. Committee members observed that overtime already exceeds a single full‑time equivalent (2,080 hours) and that adding part‑time staff could reduce comp‑time accrual and mandated overtime.

County legal counsel raised potential collective‑bargaining issues, warning that nonunion part‑time employees who take overtime shifts could prompt union objections. “I think that there's a potential risk that they would have to be unionized as part of this,” said a staff member providing legal counsel, urging careful contract language and a simple supplemental agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) to reduce legal risk. Stiles said she had already spoken with the telecommunicators’ representative, Summer, who indicated the union would not oppose part‑time, nonbenefited positions provided current employees retained first opportunity for overtime slots.

Rather than vote on a final policy, the committee moved to have staff develop a written framework and a proposed MOU describing how part‑time telecommunicators would be used and presented for a future committee vote. James Bailey made the motion and Mike McEmory seconded; the committee approved the motion. Committee members suggested planning for two to three part‑time hires, with some saying three or four could provide a larger buffer given turnover.

Next steps include drafting the MOU language, clarifying bidding/assignment procedures for shifts, and returning a formal proposal to the Salary and Labor Committee for approval. The committee did not adopt any new hires or contract language at the Aug. 27 meeting.