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Athens County discusses 911 staffing, approves two intermittent hires and directs retention plan
Summary
The Board approved two intermittent 911 dispatch hires and accepted a resignation, while 911 Director Teresa Fouts-Imler warned of high training costs (~$20,000 per hire) and retention challenges and was asked to return with a formal bonus proposal; the board also discussed AFG grant logistics and a township-focused MARCS radio MOU.
The Athens County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2 unanimously approved two new intermittent 911 dispatcher hires and directed 911 leadership to return with a formal retention incentive proposal to address high training costs and turnover.
Teresa Fouts-Imler, director of 911, told the board the county had approved Amy Scott (The Plains) and Hannah Taylor (Logan; prior Hocking County dispatcher) as intermittent dispatchers at $21.20 per hour, with start dates of Dec. 9, 2025. Fouts-Imler said the agency invests about $20,000 and roughly 12–13 weeks training per new dispatcher and that many intermittents leave after about six months for fixed schedules elsewhere, requiring repeated retraining.
The board discussed potential retention frameworks and asked Fouts-Imler to return with a formal proposal that includes amounts and funding sources. Commissioners raised examples including modest tenure bonuses (for example, $500 at six months and $500 at 12 months) or larger amounts if analysis shows savings by reducing retraining costs. The board emphasized prioritizing the internal intermittent pool for future full-time vacancies.
The board also went into executive session at 10:39 to discuss discipline of a public employee and returned at 10:50, at which time it accepted the resignation of 911 employee Michelle Hutchinson.
On grant issues, Commissioner Chris Chmiel and Fouts-Imler updated the board on the Federal Emergency Management Agency/American Fire Grants (AFG) process. They said one local department must serve as the grant "host"; the board agreed Athens Township / The Plains Fire Department appears the most logical host given capacity. The board emphasized that any memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding MARCS radios and cost-sharing should be executed by township trustees (not the Fire Association), should clarify that trustees/fire departments are responsible for ongoing MARCS user fees, and should outline limited county assistance on a case-by-case hardship basis. The director was asked to draft a township-focused MOU and to confirm with the AFG grant writer whether AFG funds may cover ongoing user fees.
The director and commissioners agreed to schedule trustee outreach and invited the Fire Association to the next week's agenda to finalize host documentation and next steps.
The board left the item with: approval of the two intermittent hires; acceptance of the resignation; direction for a formal retention-bonus proposal from the 911 director; and staff tasks to draft a township-focused MOU and confirm AFG user-fee rules with the grant writer. The board set a preparatory Fire Association appearance for the following week's meeting.
