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Fayette County dispatcher warns of staffing shortfalls; commissioners approve two hires
Summary
Kelly Van Meter told commissioners the county’s 911 dispatch is stretched thin after a recent resignation and two unsuccessful hires; the board approved two immediate hires and gave preliminary approval to two additional candidates while Van Meter urged adding a sixth full-time dispatcher in the budget.
Kelly Van Meter, the county’s dispatch supervisor, told the Fayette County Board of Commissioners that the dispatch center is struggling with staff turnover and unreliable part-time coverage and urged the board to consider adding a sixth full-time dispatcher in the next budget cycle. "If this the point that we're at is 1 person calls off sick or whatever, we we are sunk," she said, describing shifts in which employees worked 12–16 hours to cover gaps.
Van Meter said she recently lost one employee to a full-time position elsewhere and that two new hires from March had not worked out. She reported interviewing Cynthia Hunter and Kaylee Burnett and that both "have been to Hailey already here, so they're ready to go." Van Meter also said she has two other candidates—Justice Brown and Latham Goebel—tentatively scheduled for interviews and asked for preliminary board approval to proceed with hiring if interviews are successful.
Commissioner Dale moved to approve the hiring of Cynthia Hunter and Kaylee Burnett and to give tentative approval for Justice Brown and Latham Goebel; Commissioner Tracy seconded the motion. The board approved the request by voice vote (three ayes).
Van Meter described operational problems tied to reliance on part-time employees, including scheduling difficulties and training costs lost when part-timers leave before completing training. She said the department currently uses eight staff (including herself) to cover 24/7 operations and that converting an existing part-time employee to a full-time position would reduce the need for continual new hiring and retraining.
The board did not take a separate formal vote on adding a sixth full-time dispatcher; Van Meter said she would try to incorporate the position in her budget and track hires and training outcomes for the commissioners. The clerk will receive documentation of hires and the outcomes of pending interviews by email, per Van Meter’s request.
What happens next: Van Meter will proceed with interviews and notify commissioners by email of final hires; any budget request for a new full-time position would be considered during the county's budget process.
