Kent County Levy Court commissioners heard proposals to hire two dispatchers for the county’s 911 Center and a plan to finance the new county library at its Nov. 17 committee meeting.
Colin Faulkner, director of the county’s Department of Public Safety, said the county is working with two dispatchers per shift, which is less than the nationally recommended standard of four.
Because of the shortage, the department easily could be comprised in its ability to answer calls if staff members had extended medical leave or military deployments, Faulkner said.
Extended hours for dispatchers could lead to fatigue, and the shortage could compromise the county’s ability to handle large number of calls during a storm or large fire, he added.
The Department of Public Safety hired a consultant to study the 911 Center’s staffing needs, and the most conservative recommendation involved bringing in four new dispatchers.
But hiring even two additional dispatchers for the 911 Center would make a big difference in the services offered to county residents, Faulkner said.
“We’re trying to maintain a level of functionality and anticipate some of these scenarios,” he added.
The positions would be paid for by using $4 million from cellular surcharge fees and by not funding a paramedic trainee program. Faulkner said the trainee program had been developed when the county was having trouble attracting paramedics and few colleges were offering training programs. With Delaware Technical & Community College training students, paramedics are much more readily available, Faulkner said.
Commissioner Eric Buckson said he had visited the 911 Center and agreed with the need for more personnel for those services.
“It’s nice to know that we can move monies that have already been budgeted to cover the expenses,” Buckson said.
The commissioners will consider the proposal again at their business meeting on Nov. 24.
Library funding studied
At the business meeting, commissioners also will consider a proposal to finance the new location for the county library using money from the economic development fund and savings put aside for a gymnasium for the county Division of Recreation.
All the revenue for the funds comes from real estate transfer taxes.
The move would entail using $1.4 million to purchase space in the new building, located in Longacre Village, south of Camden, $338,647 to make changes to the building’s interior, $67,150 to place glass in the north end of the building, and $265,000 to move the library to the 10,000-square-foot facility.
On Oct. 27, Levy Court decided to purchase the space following concerns from local officials and residents that a proposed building near Brecknock Park would take away state funding from the Dover Public Library.
Commissioner Dick Ennis did not support taking money from a farm preservation fund for the library, and the commissioners agreed on a compromise that would involve using $1 million from the capital projects fund, $515,500 from the gymnasium fund, $515,500 from the economic development fund and $40,000 from the general operating fund.
The move would leave a balance of $2,993,500 in the gymnasium fund and $1,484,500 in the economic development fund.
Commissioners Eric Buckson voted against the proposal to move the library on Oct. 27, and fellow Commissioner Brad Eaby abstained; both said they would not be voting on the funding options.
Email Elaine Hughes at elaine.hughes@doverpost.com.
