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Valley County commissioners approve sheriff requests, sign Thunderbolt tower permit and allow temporary dispatcher PTO payouts
Summary
Valley County Commissioners on June 9 approved a grant modification for service patrols, extended use of Forest Service radio repeaters, signed a special-use permit for the Thunderbolt radio tower and agreed to allow dispatchers to cash out PTO until dispatcher staffing reaches 80 percent.
Valley County Commissioners approved several requests from the sheriff’s office at their June 9 meeting, including a modification to an existing service-patrol grant, renewal of radio repeater arrangements with the U.S. Forest Service, execution of a special-use permit for the Thunderbolt radio tower and a temporary policy to allow dispatch employees to cash out paid-time-off (PTO) until dispatcher staffing reaches 80 percent.
The modification to the service-patrol grant was described by Sheriff Perry as a continuation with no increase in funding; he said the county will begin billing in July for the extended service. Perry told commissioners that equipment and manpower costs remain high and that staffing in some units remains thin. The commission moved and approved the grant modification.
Commissioners also approved continuation of long-standing radio repeater arrangements with the U.S. Forest Service. Perry said the repeaters have been in place for years and that the county incurs no direct cost for the extended lease.
The commission signed a special-use permit described at the meeting as related to the Thunderbolt tower, a high-elevation radio site the sheriff’s office uses to reach remote areas beyond Big Creek Summit, including approaches toward Yellow Pine and Deadwood. Sheriff Perry noted the site is solar/battery powered and requires helicopter access for maintenance. The motion to approve the special-use permit was moved, seconded and approved.
On staffing, commissioners approved a countywide accommodation requested by the sheriff’s office to let dispatch employees choose to be paid out their PTO until the county reaches an 80 percent dispatcher staffing level. County discussion said dispatch had four certified dispatchers currently on duty, three in training and additional candidates in background checks; training to full solo dispatch certification was described as roughly nine to 10 months. The commission approved the temporary payout policy, with the intention that it would sunset when the 80 percent staffing benchmark is met.
Actions recorded at the meeting indicate the commission voted to: approve the service-patrol grant modification, approve the special-use permit as presented, and approve a temporary PTO payout policy for dispatch staff until 80 percent staffing is achieved. Each motion was moved, seconded and approved "all in favor."
