City staff outline PSAP consolidation with Lawrence County, estimate short-term personnel costs

City staff briefed the council on five agenda items tied to combining the Spearfish public-safety answering point (PSAP) with Lawrence County. Staff said the items are intended to smooth the transition for affected communication officers, including a request that Lawrence County hire a conditional candidate directly to avoid a full retraining cycle here and a proposal that the city reimburse the county for that employee's cost through December.

"The next, 5 items all have to do with the, the combining of our PSAP, with Lawrence County," said Angelica, describing personnel and administrative steps. She gave an approximate cost for one arrangement: "So, the approximate cost of that, about $7,447, a month or about $25,000 total for, September 23, through December 26." Staff also asked for limited exceptions to leave-payout policy and to continue insurance coverage for transferring officers until county coverage begins.