COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County 911 Board held a special meeting Wednesday which lasted for over an hour as Branch County Central Dispatch tries to deal with continuing staffing issues.
Board Chair and Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker said discussions to address the situation were being held before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
One of the issues has been wages even though the Branch County Board of Commissioners and the Police Officers Association of Michigan, which is the union representing 911 dispatchers, came to a contract agreement in January.
A dispatcher with three years of experience complained in her resignation letter in February that dispatchers do double the work for half the pay compared to surrounding counties.
There are 11 dispatchers when Branch County 911 is fully staffed but Director Kurt Spalding said on Wednesday they only have seven employees at the present time and added the situation has to be rectified. He pointed out two employees a few weeks ago had 60 and 61 hours of overtime and that it’s happening way too often.
Spalding estimated it would probably take up to six months to alleviate the staffing problem.
County Administrator Bud Norman said the county is prepared to move forward to discuss matters with the P.O.A.M..
He said the county had innovative proposals but he could not share details outside of negotiations with the dispatchers union during a public meeting. But Norman assured the board that their plans address the compensation issue.
After further discussion, no formal action was taken by the 911 Board Wednesday.
Frustrations have boiled over in recent weeks as a couple of dispatchers have written blistering letters to county officials detailing a work environment which has forced them to work 18 hour shifts and long periods of overtime.
