9‑1‑1 director seeks reorganization to add supervisory coverage and reduce overtime

Lacey, the county 9‑1‑1 director, asked commissioners to approve a staffing reorganization rather than a new full-time hire. She proposed elevating one supervisor position to chief dispatcher and creating three additional supervisor slots by reclassifying three dispatch positions, which she said would provide continuous supervision around the clock and reduce overtime.

Lacey said turnover has been high: "This year, our turnover rate's 43.75%." She told the commission that her submitted reorganization would cost roughly $46,000 gross and, after projected overtime reductions and an exempt chief dispatcher, a net change of about $41,000. She also provided new job descriptions and said the change would allow her to develop more in-house training capacity to meet new state continuing-education requirements (she referenced tracking House Rule 429 and NG9‑1‑1 funding studies).

Commissioners asked about alternative funding sources for training; one commissioner mentioned opioid-settlement funds, but Lacey said those funds did not meet her training requirements. She also noted cross-agency training arrangements already in place.

The board did not act on the reorganization during the session; staff and commissioners said they would continue to review the proposal in committee and follow up on funding options.