Four dispatchers were recently hired at the Logan County Communications Center (ECC/911). This makes a total of 12 at the center.

Director Judy Toombs had told the Fiscal Court earlier this month the center was down in full-time employees. She contacted area county facilities trying to get a feel for why the turn over is so high in the profession. Toombs told the Fiscal Court at Tuesday's meeting the general consensus was over stress, long hours and lack of money.

“Logan County has one of the highest benefit packages around, unfortunately they start out at a lower pay scale,” Toombs said.

According to Toombs, Logan County dispatchers start out making $9.45 an hour where dispatchers in larger cities like Bowling Green start out at $13.75.

“People don't realize how stressful this job is at times,” she said. “There is also a lot of training which accompanies the position. Dispatchers must complete eight weeks of training and then attend four and one half weeks at the academy in Richmond.”

Toombs said she thinks it would be a good idea to administer a hiring process every quarter.

“This would help us because we could hire employees part time and then when a full-time employee quits we can just move in the part-time one who will already be trained,” said Toombs explaining this process would also help cut down on overtime costs.

Toombs gave some hiring statistics which proved that turnover continues to be one of the largest issue for emergency communications centers. Five years ago the ECC hired six full-time employees and only have two left; one year ago they hired three and have one left and six months ago hired six and have two left.

Another issue Toombs mentioned Tuesday involved the confidentiality of callers who wish to stay anonymous.

Toombs said right now the way the open record laws are set up she has to give tapes of calls to those who request them. “This could hurt someone who wanted to file a complaint but stay anonymous. Even though someone may not give their name their voice could be recognized,” said Toombs.

“I am going to check with the county attorney and the attorney general's office to see if they can help guide me in finding a way out of supplying this information left by anonymous calls. After all it is our job to protect people,” said Toombs.

Magistrate Harold Prince said he agreed with Toombs. “I think if people want to call in and report wrong doing anonymously they should be protected. That is why so many people won't cooperate with the authorities because they know it will be told,” said Prince.