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Communications director outlines STARCOM and dispatch budget; proposes online dispatcher selection test
Summary
Communications Director Wendy Hess presented the STARCOM radio network budget (Woodbury County share 23%) and proposed buying an online dispatcher selection test to improve hiring success and reduce recruitment costs; board received the budgets 5–0.
Wendy Hess, Communications Center Director, presented the STARCOM (tri‑state radio network) budget and the communications center's requested FY27 budget, noting Woodbury County's share of STARCOM is about 23% and that FY27 shows a modest 1.5% expenditure increase.
Hess said the largest identifiable increase is roughly $13,000 for a Motorola maintenance contract tied to an established maintenance schedule. She also proposed purchasing an online screening test (Critical) to improve dispatcher selection; Hess said other agencies using the test see higher success rates and that the county's share of the purchase would be modest compared with recruitment and overtime costs. The board received the information and approved receipt by unanimous vote.
Supervisors discussed recruiting costs, the role of 9‑1‑1 surcharge funding for some items (but not payroll) and the communications center's cost allocation between city and county.
