Whitcom dispatch reacts to high turnover

Whitcom, the area dispatch center in Pullman, is in the midst of training new dispatchers because almost half of the dispatchers departed earlier this summer.

County Commissioner Dean Kinzer, who represents the county on the Whitcom board, said seven dispatchers turned in two-week notices on the first of June. He said the dispatchers all said they were quitting because spouses were leaving the area.

Whitcom ideally has 20 to 21 dispatchers on call. Kinzer said it takes five to six months to train dispatchers. Five dispatchers are in training now, with the remaining dispatchers putting in longer hours.

Kinzer said the board also discussed an agreement with the remaining dispatchers to recognize all the extra hours the dispatchers are working to train new dispatchers.

“Our dispatchers also train besides doing their jobs,” Kinzer said.

Patty Kelly, Whitcom administrator, said the emergency agency has been through this before.

“It’s a constant in this industry and it’s worse here because it’s a college town,” she said.

Kinzer also said the board discussed an agreement with Asotin County that would allow Whitcom to use grants that Asotin County isn’t using. Kinzer said with those grants the Whitcom board hopes to add two to three dispatcher positions and two more administrative positions.

Although the board hoped to finalize the agreement last month, Kinzer said he’s not sure when the agreement will be complete.

The state Emergency Management Department and a military department is merging, but administrative turmoil is preventing emergency management agencies from knowing how funding will be impacted.

Until they know about funding, the agreement will not be done, he said.