COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County 911 Director Bob Swick told the County’s Communications Board on Wednesday morning that their manager has been working as a dispatcher in order to help lessen overtime costs.
Swick said she is working as a dispatcher 10 hours a day, four days a week.
The 911 Center is facing the ongoing issue of being short of 11 full-time dispatchers. Swick stated they have interviewed 48 applicants since January 5 with eight being hired but he added, “some are still here, some are not.”
He said two dispatch trainees will be coming on board next week. Branch County 911 currently has one supervisor, four regular staff members and three trainees.
Wages has been a big reason why the dispatch center has been understaffed in recent years. The starting salary for Branch County 911 dispatchers of over $50,000 was found to be the lowest in the region following a check of other area dispatch centers.
The agency thought about hiring an independent contractor to help with the manpower shortage earlier this year but it was felt the money would be better spent on salaries for staffing.
Branch County is conducting contract negotiations with seven unions this year. The Police Officers Association of Michigan is representing dispatchers. A meeting between the county and the union was held last Monday.
County Administrator Frank Walsh said discussions were productive and he added it’s a priority to get 911 fully staffed.
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