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Douglas County 911 center reports strong staffing, outlines technology and contract challenges
Summary
At a Jan. 29 County Commission work session, Emergency Communications Center Director Tony Foster described the center’s staffing, funding mix and near-term technology plans, including a looming Motorola service-contract renewal and rollout of transcription and Spanish translation tools.
Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center is nearing full staffing and meeting national answer-time standards while preparing for costly radio-system upgrades and new call-transcription tools, Director Tony Foster told the County Commission during a Jan. 29 work session.
Foster said the 911 center has budget authority for 35 positions and currently has 31 filled. "We currently have a budget authority for 35 positions," he said, adding that the center typically runs with about 33 operational staff and holds two slots to recruit high-performing candidates. Foster said the center’s new starting wage after a recent pay study is $24.23 an hour.
The center’s funding comes from a cooperative agreement among Douglas County, the City of Lawrence, Eudora and Baldwin City and from a state program Foster identified as the "911 Saves Act." Foster said Douglas County provides 33.33% of the center’s operating budget, Lawrence about 60%, Eudora 3.67% and Baldwin City 3%. He said the 911 Saves Act yields about $620,000 a year…
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