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Martin County 911 manager warns of staffing shortfall, requests three additional telecommunicators
Summary
Communications Manager Jason Steward told commissioners the center needs three new Telecommunicator I positions to reach a sustainable minimum staffing level of eight on the floor and address rising call volume; he said the current model is "not sustainable."
Communications Manager Jason Steward told the Martin County Board of Commissioners at the Feb. 24 retreat that increased call volume and an aging staffing model have left the county—11 center stretched thin and in need of three additional Telecommunicator I positions.
Steward said the 911 center—urrently has 10 staff members (one director, one assistant director, one addressing specialist, four shift leaders and three telecommunicators) and that the staffing model ssumes two telecommunicators per shift but "the current minimum staffing model required eight full-time communicators and Martin County Communications had seven allotted currently." He said staffing had not kept pace with growing demand: "the current minimum staffing model of two Telecommunicators per shift was not sustainable."
He presented three-year call data showing a significant increase from 2018 to 2020 and said peak demand fell roughly between noon and midnight. The proposal would create three Telecommunicator I positions (minimum salary $28,008 plus benefits each) to reach an eight-person operational floor, allow addressing and assistant director staff to step off the floor during peak times for necessary duties, and better cover training and ride-alongs.
County Manager James Bennett asked for clarification about peak times and Steward said noon to midnight tended to be the busiest period; commissioners discussed possible shift-model changes but Steward said a 12-hour model remained preferred.
No formal vote was taken; staff requested the positions be considered as part of upcoming budget deliberations.
