Walsh County to advertise for dispatcher: commissioners approve one full-time or two part-time options

Walsh County commissioners voted Sept. 16 to advertise for a dispatcher position, allowing either one full-time hire or two part-time hires to give the dispatch center additional coverage.

Crystal (dispatch) told the board the department has been short-staffed for months and is funded for the position through the next year. Commissioners discussed alternatives including two 20-hour part-time employees, a single full-time hire, and a proposal to change full-time status from 40 hours to a 36-hour salary model to reduce overtime and improve work-life balance.

Crystal said they already had interest from a candidate with prior dispatch experience who would accept a part-time role if advertised. Commissioners discussed scheduling trade-offs: part-time hires might limit benefits costs but require experienced candidates to avoid long training time; 12-hour shifts were raised as a retention option but some commissioners questioned whether 12-hour shifts would impair performance on a safety-sensitive dispatch job.

After discussion, a motion to advertise for one full-time or two part-time dispatcher positions carried on roll call. The minutes show the following recorded votes: Commissioner Danny, yes; Commissioner Amy, yes; Commissioner Paul, yes; Commissioner Rudy, yes; and the chair voted yes. The board also directed staff to return options for shift schedules and benefit configurations for further discussion.

Why it matters: Dispatch is a 24/7 public-safety function; staffing and schedule choices affect overtime costs, employee retention and emergency response continuity.

What to watch next: County staff will advertise the position(s) and return with recruitment results and proposed schedules for commissioner review.