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Commissioners approve short-term consultant to stabilize 911 operations; authorize transfers to cover costs
Summary
Facing staff shortages and no applicants for a 9‑1‑1 director post, commissioners approved engaging retired 9‑1‑1 director Dave Costin as a short-term consultant (approx. $25,000) to train staff, mentor a future director and assist with hiring; they also authorized staff transfers to fund the contract and agreed to seek a contract for review.
Owen County commissioners on Sept. 8 authorized a short-term consulting arrangement to stabilize the county’s 9‑1‑1 operations after repeated staff turnover and a lack of applicants for the director position.
Commissioners discussed a proposal to bring retired Putnam County 9‑1‑1 director Dave Costin in as a consultant to lead training, support recruitment and mentor a successor. Costin, who retired in July, told commissioners he could work part time — roughly 16 to 24 hours per week — and that he believed he could help recruit and train a durable director by Christmas. Commissioners discussed a not-to-exceed payment of $25,000 to cover an initial engagement and an additional optional $25,000 if an extension into early 2026 proved necessary.
Commissioner Anton moved to engage Costin for a three-month period; Commissioner Steve seconded and the motion carried. The board asked county staff to produce a written contract spelling out duties, schedule and deliverables before funds are disbursed.
Because the 9‑1‑1 budget already includes some allocations for overtime and part-time pay, commissioners approved a separate motion allowing the county auditor to transfer available balances into contract services to cover the consultant expense and other immediate needs. That motion also passed on a voice vote.
County officials described the dispatch center as “the backbone” of emergency services and said the center had been operating without a stable director for much of 2024 and 2025. Commissioners said training gaps and leadership turnover had increased operational risk and led to recent resignations. One commissioner described the proposed consultant work as a “band-aid” to get operations stabilized and to mentor staff through hiring and onboarding.
The board also approved a separate motion directing the auditor to contact the bank and arrange payoff of an outstanding 9‑1‑1 loan (about $223,000 outstanding), which county staff said would reduce future budget obligations and free up about $100,000 in annual budgeting assumptions. That motion passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The county’s 9‑1‑1 center handles emergency calls and dispatch for public safety agencies; commissioners said restoring training, leadership and staffing stability is an urgent priority to reduce operational risk and liability while recruitment proceeds.
