COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners accepted a three year contract with the Police Officers Association of Michigan on Thursday which will cover Branch County 911 dispatchers.
The action came after the Commissioners discussed the contract in a closed session.
The contract will run from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2028. Details of the agreement were not immediately available.
It’s hoped the new contract will lead to the hiring of additional dispatchers. The 911 Center has faced manpower shortages is recent years thanks in large part to lower wages when compared to nearby counties. The starting salary of over $50,000 for Branch County 911 dispatchers was found to be the lowest in the region.
Branch County 911 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.
In other business, the Commissioners gave County Administrator Frank Walsh a positive performance review after they had an informal discussion with him during a closed session on May 27. Normally, the Commissioners conduct reviews of the County Administrator on a yearly basis.
Commission Chair Randall Hazelbaker said the board felt Walsh has done a fine job in his first six months noting his strength in communication skills and his teamwork approach to aiding county worker morale.
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