By Becky Killian
Staff Writer
The City of Salem’s dispatch department will merge into the county’s 911 effective June 1. The merger got a unanimous vote of support from the Washington County Board of Commissioners during the Tuesday, May 21, meeting.
Prior to the vote, Commissioner Todd Ewen said, “I’m tickled to death this has finally come about.” He commended Mayor Justin Green and Sheriff Brent Miller for their negotiations that resulted in the merger.
The agreement is expected to save administrative and overhead costs for both the city and county. The city will provide two dispatchers’ salaries annually in an amount not to exceed $65,000.
The merger found unanimous support from the Salem Common Council during its Monday, May 13, meeting.
The change will not result in any loss of jobs, Green said. The city’s current dispatchers will have the option of transferring to the county.
Green said both the city and county departments struggle to find adequate staffing: it is hoped the merger will alleviate that problem.
“This proposal makes sense in a lot of ways,” Green said, adding that a combined city-county dispatch is not unique to Salem and Washington County.
The interlocal agreement that details the merger offers both parties the opportunity to opt out with a 90-day notification. The agreement has a term of five years.