‘Critical staff shortage’ at 911 leads Wasco County Commission Agenda on Nov. 5
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 4, 2025 — Wasco County Commissioners will consider a proposal Wednesday to hire an outside firm to provide emergency dispatch support as the county faces one of its most critical 911 staffing shortages in recent years.
The meeting will be held at 401 E. 3rd Street, The Dalles starting at 9 a.m.
The six-month agreement, valued at $146,100, would bring in two certified dispatchers through GetResQ911 LLC, a company specializing in temporary emergency communications staffing and is headquartered in Parker, Colo. The plan aims to relieve burnout among remaining dispatchers and keep 911 services fully operational while the county works to fill three vacant positions — with the possibility of a fourth opening soon.
Under the proposal, GetResQ911 would recruit and vet dispatchers with at least three years of experience and recent service in multi-agency dispatch centers. Candidates must also have experience handling NCIC transactions and pass national, county, and credit background checks.
According to Emergency Services Director Krista Silver, the contract would help stabilize a system strained by overtime and turnover. “Engaging GetResQ911 offers a timely and effective solution to ensure our 911 center remains fully operational and responsive,” Silver wrote in her memo to the board (page 5).
Financial Details
The agreement includes a $38,100 upfront payment, covering a $15,000 start-up fee, the first month’s salary and housing stipends, and background screening costs. The remaining five months would be billed at $21,600 per month, based on an hourly rate of $55 per dispatcher, with overtime and holidays billed at $82.50 per hour.
Finance Director Mike Middleton recommended using contingency funds to offset an anticipated $41,000–$45,000 budget increase after savings from reduced overtime are factored in. The proposal estimates the temporary hires could save roughly $74,000 in the 911 overtime budget.
To control costs, dispatchers from GetResQ911 would not be eligible for overtime or holiday shifts.
Courthouse Security
Commissioners will also hear an update from Information Services Director Andrew Burke on the next phase of a multi-year courthouse security upgrade. The project, launched in early 2024, aims to modernize electronic door access and video surveillance across the courthouse and annex buildings. Burke is seeking approval to move into Phase 2, which would retrofit existing doors with electronic access and update several cameras. The cost is projected at $56,608.41 from the court security budget and $32,100.49 from county funds, for a total of $88,708.90, to be completed through Cook Solutions Group.
Burke is also requesting approval of a three-year, $58,232.97 renewal with Virtru, the county’s secure email and file encryption service for Google Workspace. The renewal, managed through SADA Systems, maintains encryption for county email and Google Drive communications involving sensitive data. Burke noted the county negotiated a reduced price increase from 20% to 15%, spread over three years, with the annual cost budgeted under Information Services’ contracted services.
Juvenile Crime Prevention
Commissioners are also expected to review the Juvenile Crime Prevention Fund Grant , which would extend Wasco County’s agreement with the Oregon Department of Education through June 30, 2027, and increase total funding from $133,000 to $208,000 to continue youth crime prevention programs.
In addition, Youth Services will present an update on the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), which partners with local child welfare agencies to intervene early with at-risk youth and families. The program aims to reduce juvenile justice involvement, out-of-home placements, and reliance on detention or crisis care by coordinating multi-agency support services.
Commissioners will also review a CARE Northwest contract renewal, continuing the county’s collaboration with Legacy Health to provide forensic and medical evaluation services for children in abuse cases.
In other business, the Columbia Gorge Humane Society is requesting county funding to cover utilities for the county-owned shelter building and to fund an executive director position. The proposal would provide stable leadership and maintain operations while the nonprofit works toward establishing a special district for long-term animal services funding.
Finally, commissioners are being asked to declare nine aging county vehicles as surplus, including a 2010 Chevy Tahoe, 2006 Dodge Durango, 2011 Ford Expedition, and multiple Ford Explorers and trucks ranging from 1981 to 2017. The vehicles, valued between $300 and $5,000, were identified by departments as too costly to maintain or no longer needed for operations.
