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Kootenai County sees staffing gains at 9-1-1 as leaders weigh new dispatch center
Summary
Lieutenant Jeff Howard told commissioners the county has hired seven dispatchers in six months, with six "on track" and multiple trainees expected by spring, but said aging facilities, odor and space limits may force a move and an estimated $5M–$7.5M build cost warrants preliminary engineering.
Kootenai County Lieutenant Jeff Howard told the Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 12 that the county’s 9‑1‑1 center has made steady hiring gains but faces persistent facility problems that could require a new dispatch facility.
Howard said, "Of the 7 that we've hired in the last 6 months, 6 of them are on track," and that most recent trainees should be fully ready by mid‑March, with one ready by mid‑January. He reported one voluntary departure that morning but characterized the staffing trend as a marked improvement over prior years.
The board heard why Howard views a new or renovated facility as operationally urgent. "The building was built in 1992...we're taking a 160,000 calls a year now," he said, noting the original facility was sized when annual call volume…
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