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Telecommunications director to retire; commission approves training arrangement and tables wider staffing hires
Summary
Telecommunications director Freddy Tarantine informed the commission he will retire and requested a temporary training captain role so he can train his replacement; the commission approved temporary training steps and hiring of a replacement deputy while tabling the addition of two telecommunicator positions pending further study with neighboring Blunt County.
Freddy Tarantine, the county’s telecommunications director, told commissioners he plans to retire later this year and asked to be assigned a temporary training-captain role so he can train the appointed replacement. Tarantine said training a successor will take months and emphasized the technical complexity of the position, which includes 911 call-taking responsibilities and access to restricted NCIC screens.
Commissioners discussed adding two telecommunicator positions to prepare for the transition and a separate deputy sheriff hire to fill a vacancy created when someone moves up internally. Because the county is coordinating with neighboring Blunt County about 911 dispatching arrangements and funding flows, commissioners voted to table approval of the two telecommunicator hires for two weeks to allow follow-up meetings. They did, however, approve the temporary training arrangement for Tarantine and motions allowing the sheriff to refill a deputy slot; commissioners noted the modest hourly pay increase to move an existing telecommunicator into the supervisory role.
Why it matters: Central dispatch operations are critical to emergency response and are governed by state and federal 911 requirements. Staffing transitions can affect continuity of service and require multiagency coordination.
What's next: County leaders will meet with Blunt County representatives to finalize 911 arrangements, review budget impacts and determine whether to proceed with the additional telecommunicator positions at the next meeting.
