Letters to the editor Jan. 29

Support 911 dispatchers

There was a recent Daily Inter Lake article regarding the current state of the 911 Dispatch Center. Thank you to both the Inter Lake and to Jeremy Weber who penned the article. Many in our community have been sounding an alarm for the situation at the communication center for a while but I was thrilled to see the local journalists holding those in authority to account and sounding the alarm for the community. The article does an excellent job in addressing the issue.

How many in our community were aware the dispatch center has been operating at less than half of a full roster for over a year? The article indicates the Flathead County Management Plan expects 26 dispatchers, but there appears to be between 11 and 15. A discrepancy that hints of chaos behind the scenes at the center. Presumably, the reason there are only three positions posted are the strains training new staff puts on the experienced staff. Training new people at a normal job, with normal stress levels can be overwhelming. I can’t imagine the wrench it throws in things when the jobs stakes are this high.

As a community we have to hold those in authority, elected and not, accountable. Commissioner Brad Abell, as well as the director, were both interviewed for the article. The commissioner acknowledges that the hours and shift length could have negative affects: “At the end of an 80 week, or even at the end of a twelve hour day, you are not as sharp as you were at the start ... I don’t know how they are doing it ... How do you put that many hours in and still be able to function.”

When talking about solutions he had this to say: “We have looked at raising their wages, but I am not sure that is 100% of the problem.”

Well Commissioner, it is a part of the problem. Inflation is down, but still at record levels, the cost of living in the Flathead has always been high, maybe the reason these people have jobs is so they can live and eat. \

Driving through town there are Help Wanted signs at nearly every business, if one wants a job at a local fast food joint, the wages advertised are typically $17-19 an hour. If you want to work at a place where people are calling you on their worst day, screaming, hysterical, scared, depending on you to be fresh, quick, and clear headed, that job starts at $20.36. Compensation that is equal to the work being provided would be a start to solving this issue.

After reading the article it is clear that this is not the only problem at the Communication Center. The director acknowledges in the article that while she is a trained dispatcher, she “has not donned a headset.” When your staff is working 80-hour weeks, 20 days straight, and are on mandatory overtime and called in more days on than off, and you do nothing to step in and take some of the burden for your staff, you are not a leader.

In addition it is clear that the individuals working these insane hours do not feel supported, or valued. They aren’t getting to see their families. At some point the sacrifice they are making will reach its end. What will we do when the community has no more dispatchers because they have no more of themselves to give?

I ask you as a community member, go read the article, then go email our commissioners. I, for one, am tired of continuing to identify the same set of problems while those in charge continue to ignore them, it is past the time we stand to support those who work to protect us!

— Sierra Claridge, Kalispell