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Kane County approves emergency contract to bring temporary 9-1-1 telecommunicators amid staffing shortages
Summary
The board approved an emergency purchase order to secure certified temporary telecommunicators to relieve short-term staffing shortages at the Kingcom 9-1-1 center; the work will be funded from 9-1-1 surcharge and agency reimbursements.
Kane County approved an emergency purchase order Tuesday to hire certified temporary 9‑1‑1 telecommunicators to reduce excessive overtime and maintain service levels at the county's Kingcom communications center.
Michelle Guthrie, director of CAMCOM (the county's emergency communications agency), said staff learned last week of an employee resignation and an immediate family‑medical leave absence. Guthrie told the board that training a new telecommunicator takes six to nine months and the county sought a short-term option described as a temporary staffing solution that can field certified dispatchers within weeks.
"We were just made aware this past week about an employee that is leaving. We were also made aware this last week that we have an employee that's going out on FMLA," Guthrie said. She told the board the emergency contract would be paid from Kingcom’s budget (9‑1‑1 surcharge fees and subscribing agency contributions) and would not require a budget adjustment.
Board members asked about union notifications and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) implications; Guthrie said county attorneys were consulted and the contract did not require union approval. Several board members praised the action as a short-term fix to ease mandatory overtime and protect the health of current staff.
The board approved the emergency purchase order by roll call.
Ending Guthrie said the temporary telecommunicators should reduce repeated 12‑ and 16‑hour shifts for current staff while the county finishes hiring and training permanent staff. The item was presented as a time-sensitive operational need to sustain emergency communications service.
