Dispatch manager reports full staffing, training plans and cybersecurity timeline

At its meeting the South Summit Council of Governments heard a dispatch manager’s report noting that the dispatch center is fully staffed with 20 full-time and five part-time employees and that the center has posted a communications training coordinator position.

Leslie said benefits-renewal work is underway and that the group expects Anthem to remain the medical carrier; dental will be tested with ASME per the union agreement. On compliance, she said dispatch completed the auditor-of-state fraud training and is working with contractor ETC to implement cybersecurity-law requirements; the COG’s compliance deadline is July 2026 and Leslie said she expects to be on target.

A dispatcher asked to attend a two-day Columbus training that includes caller identification skills; the cost estimate is $613 including lodging. Members discussed whether to send one staffer to attend and bring back materials rather than sending multiple employees to preserve staffing. “I like training — it’s critical,” the Chair said, adding that the attendee should prepare a writeup and share the material with chiefs and staff after returning.

Why it matters: the staffing and training items affect the dispatch center’s operational readiness; the cybersecurity timeline affects COG-wide policy and compliance planning ahead of the July 2026 deadline.

The council took no separate vote on staffing or benefits during the meeting but encouraged staff to proceed with recruitment and to provide post-training documentation to other dispatchers and chiefs.