Board may reopen 911 director applications

Applications submitted for the 911 Center director position were so underwhelming that 911 board members discussed reopening the application process during their regular meeting Wednesday.

“Right now I’m not terribly excited,” board member Turner Askew said. “I don’t feel comfortable in making a decision based on the few that I have marked as good.”

That sentiment was echoed by fellow board members, including Mike Shepard.

“I was very disappointed in the applicant pool,” Shepard said, later adding, “I’ve hired and fired quite a few people in my lifetime, and I didn’t get a warm, fuzzy feeling at all.”

While noting that the most recent Office of Emergency Services director, Roger LaFerriere, left due to family medical issues, Shepard shared his discomfort that for the fourth time in five years, the board was looking for someone to head the agency.

“I am tired of hiring people who do not stay,” he said. “It’s not fair to the employees of this facility or county. How many have we had in how many years we’ve run it? Too many.”

In addition to his thoughts on potentially re-advertising for the director position, Askew pointed to another avenue the board can pursue in the short term.

“I think that there may be an option, and I’ve asked the question of human resources, because there were a number of applications that were thrown out because they were not signed in the proper place or have a cover sheet, and before we give up, I think it might be worthwhile to look at those and see if there is anybody there that we need to teach completion to,” Askew said.

The new 911 Center director will be responsible not only for dispatch but also take over some responsibilities of the former Office of Emergency Services director.

The positions were combined following the departure of LaFerriere and 911 Center Manager Michelene Provo.

Several of LaFerriere’s supervisory responsibilities were shifted to Sheriff Chuck Curry, the current chairman of the 911 board. Those include oversight of the fire service area manager, EMS services and the Office of Emergency Services itself. In addition, oversight of Administrative Financial Support Specialist Juanita Nelson was transferred to the county finance department.

A final plan for restructuring of the center is pending review by Curry and a vote by the board.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.