LaSalle County committee approves hiring permanent part‑time 9‑1‑1 dispatchers to curb overtime

LaSalle County’s Public Safety Committee voted to permit the 9‑1‑1 director to hire permanent part‑time dispatchers after the director told the committee the office is struggling to cover shifts and pay rising overtime. The committee approved the request by voice vote after a brief discussion.

Diana Stiles, the county 9‑1‑1 director, told the committee she had already spoken with the union president and that the union “is on board” with hiring permanent part‑time staff. “We are finding that we are running into a lot of time off, with the more senior people,” Stiles said, describing a recent period when 30 shifts (240 hours) of time off had to be covered and recounting times when the on‑duty pool dropped to five or six people.

The change matters because Stiles said the center is relying on overtime to fill gaps and that dispatch is “an extremely high stress role” where burnout is common. She said part‑time hires could come from experienced local dispatchers, retirees, parents or students and would reduce overtime costs because part‑timers would not receive union benefits.

Committee members questioned details about scheduling and costs. Craig asked for a comparison between overtime spending and the cost of hiring part‑time staff. Stiles said the planned starting wage for part‑time hires would align with the union starting rate, which she cited as $23.21 per hour. Tom and Ray suggested better annual vacation scheduling could help; Stiles replied the county contract limits the committee’s ability to deny requested vacation without “extenuating circumstances.”

With no formal amendments, a motion to approve hiring permanent part‑time dispatchers was made by Ray, seconded by Tom. The committee voted in favor; the chair announced “Motion carries.” The vote was conducted by voice; no roll‑call vote record was entered in the transcript.

The committee did not specify an exact number of part‑time hires in the public discussion beyond Stiles’ remark that she hoped for “2 or 3” to start. Committee members requested that payroll and overtime figures be checked and available for further review.

Stiles said she had interest from local, experienced dispatchers and framed part‑time positions as a way to improve work‑life balance and to create a pipeline for future full‑time hires.

The committee’s approval allows the 9‑1‑1 office to proceed with hiring under the terms discussed; specifics about job postings, final hourly rates and budgetary adjustments were not finalized in the meeting and were left to staff to implement.