COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In order to eliminate the ongoing staffing problems at Branch County Central Dispatch, the 911 Board proposed a number of solutions to the Board of Commissioners during their work session Tuesday.
Board Chair and Coldwater Fire Chief Dave Schmaltz said it’s not going to be fixed in one day. He hopes a meeting with the dispatcher union executives, as well as with county officials, can be arranged.
Commission Chair Ted Gordon said they would like to start contract negotiations with the dispatcher union at the end of this month or early August.
The 911 Board is also proposing that if a letter of understanding between the dispatcher union and county is not extended past January 1, 2020, then the dispatcher pay scale should be adjusted.
Schmaltz says one of the long term solutions is for the county to get rid of the Tier Two pay system.
One of the issues has already been taken care of, as Commissioners are formally scheduled to bring back two former dispatchers on a temporary basis next week.
