The Crossville city council put off a decision on funding for an additional dispatcher position for the Central Communication Center (CCC) 911 operation after the county tentatively approved funding two position if the city would fund one of them.
CCC Director Rod Shop, at podium left, addresses the
Crossville City Council on funding for additional 911
dispatch personnel.
CCC Director Rod Shoap had initially requested 8 additional dispatcher positions and told the county that that number of positions is needed because of the increase of call volume to the public safety partners of 6 percent, a public perception that the dispatch operation needed to improve its processes and service and the minimum staffing recommended for a county the size of Cumberland should have 6 dispatchers on duty at all times.
According to Shoap, the overnight shifts in the dispatch operation currently have only half of the recommended number of dispatchers. The overnight dispatchers have to take a portable radio when they go to the bathroom, eat at their desk and time off is difficult to cover. The new positions, if received would be added to the overnight shifts.
Councilman J. H. Graham asked Shoap about the numbers provided that showed the calls from the County were up 12 percent while calls from the city were down 3 percent. Graham also pointed out that the difference between the number of calls for the first six months was not close to a 50-50 balance as the funding is currently.
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Mr. Shoap explained that it was not really about the number of dispatches, but about the number of positions, “We would not want to have the Crossville Police Department with only a dispatcher for 12 hours. We need to cover them for 24 hours. They need their own dispatcher because of the number of units. We need at least 4 radio positions and 2 manning phones calls all the time.”
Graham asked about the rerouting of calls to Putnam County when Cumberland is unable to answer all the calls. Shoap said that would continue to be available but added that one difference was that the partner in Putnam did not dispatch law enforcement and would have to reroute those calls back to the CCC. Shoap added, “That is fail-safe situation but it is not what you would want as the best choice.”
Councilman Danny Wyatt made a motion to authorize the city attorney and city manager to have 30 to 45 days to continue the discussions with CCC and the County Mayor and then take the discussion back up in September. Council member Pamala Harris supported Wyatt's motion.
Ms. Harris explained that her concern was about the fairness of the split (of expenses) and that is why she believed further discussion and study was needed.
Shoap commented saying that the process of paying for the service is up to the county commission and the council, “but the people who receive the benefit of it are the citizens of the city and the county and also the police officers, the fire personnel and the emergency medical personnel that we check on for their safety. So as you make these decisions, I just want to earnestly impress on you the that's important.”
The motion to delay a decision for further conversations was approved unanimously by the council.
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