Emergency services requests new radio-system manager and quality-assurance role; commissioners agree to include positions in budget despite objections

Emergency-services staff told commissioners March 7 that the department's reorganization and the county's upgraded radio system require new, dedicated management roles. Emergency Services Director Paul Kelly said the county is expanding from four radio towers to 13 and needs a radio-system manager responsible for operations, and that quality-assurance duties for dispatch and emergency responders require a full-time staff role rather than the current ad-hoc arrangement.

Kelly explained the communications reorganization removed a communications manager and created a deputy-director role; the reorg left a functional gap that the department believes is best filled either by reclassifying existing positions or adding focused roles for radio operations and quality assurance. Kelly said the radio system upgrade will be completed in spring/early summer and that the county has increased operational complexity that cannot remain an ancillary duty.

Several commissioners said the board had directed no new FTEs in budget submissions; other commissioners and Kelly argued that critical operational needs should be raised even if not in the initial submission. After extended discussion and conflicting views about budget discipline, the commission gave staff consensus to include both the radio-system manager and a standalone quality-assurance position as items in the FY18 budget run to allow further review during final balancing. Commissioners asked staff to bring the deputy director up to speed first and reassess the full staffing needs as the deputy is hired and evaluates gaps.