COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners gave formal approval on Tuesday which authorizes the county to contact the Police Officers Association of Michigan and negotiate a memorandum of understanding as soon as possible concerning wages for 911 dispatchers in Branch County.
County Administrator Bud Norman said a meeting has been established between the county and the P.O.A.M. which is the union representing Branch County 911 dispatchers.
Issues over wages when compared to other nearby counties have been ongoing even though the union and the county came to a contract agreement around the first of the year.
The action came after the Branch County 911 Board held a special meeting last Wednesday as Branch County Central Dispatch tries to deal with continuing staffing issues.
Branch County 911 Director Kurt Spalding said last week they presently only have seven employees which is four short of being fully staffed.
