HomeMy WebLinkAbout911 Tech Services Staff Request
Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District
Staff Report
DATE: October 17, 2014
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Steve Reinke, Director
THROUGH: Tom Anderson, County Administrator
SUBJECT: Technical Services Workload Analysis / Request for One FTE
ISSUE: An increase in a Department’s employee count requires Board approval.
BACKGROUND: Early in my tenure with Deschutes 9-1-1, I noted there were a considerable number of
stalled and incomplete projects in our Technical Services Division. I asked Technical Services Manager Rick
Silbaugh to prepare information detailing his Division’s responsibilities, and to compare them with the
staff resources available to respond to internal and external demands for service.
DISCUSSION: Rick’s analysis concluded the Division’s two current employees (Rick and Barry Allen) are
available for work 3,184 hours a year, yet the Division’s day to day maintenance and operations require
6,561 annual hours. The shortfall is equivalent to two full-time employees.
Of note is the shortfall of available staff hours does not address a number of outstanding projects, nor
does it accommodate Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 enhancements nor the planning, design and
implementation of a new radio system. Staff intends to utilize an upcoming strategic planning process to
identify those needs as well as the District’s other capital and operational requirements as part of a long
term strategy.
Public Safety Systems Specialist Barry Allen will retire on May 31, 2015. This year’s budget included
funding to hire his replacement on July 1, 2014 so there would be several months of overlap to help an
orderly transition of duties. The anticipated hire date for the position is late November, 2014.
This request for this new position is being made now due to the immediate need for assistance with critical
infrastructure maintenance.
RECOMMENDATION: Using the current recruitment, hire one Public Safety Systems Specialist in addition
to hiring Barry’s replacement.
ACTION REQUESTED: Consider authorizing an increase from 49.5 to 50.5 FTEs for the Deschutes County
9-1-1 Service District.