by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Tallmadge -- "I just don't see what the benefit is going to be," Tallmadge Telecommunicator Nancy Linzey said of the switch to Stow's emergency dispatch services.
The benefit, Mayor Christopher Grimm said, is that the city should save approximately $243,000 annually through the change, which is part of his plan to regionalize Tallmadge.
Tallmadge will switch dispatch services to Stow July 1 for $315,000 per year for 20 years with a 3 percent cost of living increase every year, according to Grimm.
Additionally, Stow will maintain and service the Tallmadge radio and future radio systems for an additional $30,000 a year.
However, many of the Tallmadge telecommunicators are not happy with the switch and would have rather seen money used to update the city's current system and to hire additional help, including a dispatch supervisor, according to Telecommunicator and Union Representative Tina Alarcon.
"It's not regional dispatching -- it's contracting services with Stow," Linzey said.
Telecommunicators said the transition with Stow is going fairly well, but it is sometimes exhausting and overwhelming having to continue to work overtime in Tallmadge and go to Stow twice a week for two hours a day to train.
Tallmadge is compensating the telecommunicators for their time spent training in Stow, according to Telecommunicator April Morrow.
Since the Tallmadge dispatch center is "chronically understaffed" the employees have needed to work overtime, said Alarcon.
The city spends approximately $50,000 to $70,000 on overtime for nine to 10 dispatchers, according to Grimm. "Overtime fluctuates a lot, but we spend a lot of money on it," he said.
The seniority the telecommunicators have gained over the years while in Tallmadge will no longer exist after they are brought on by Stow's dispatch center, according to Morrow.
"Stow is still in negotiations [with their Union] to make that happen," said Grimm.
The telecommunicators will change unions when they become Stow employees, according to the mayor.
"We are getting the same pay and vacation time in Stow thankfully," Alarcon said. But they will not have the shift picks and vacation time picks like they do in Tallmadge, she explained.
"After years of service, we'd like to have Thanksgiving dinner with our families," Morrow said.
"We've been dedicated, loyal and faithful to our city and jobs," Linzey said.
However, when the switch does happen, "they are separating a family -- we're like a family here," Linzey said.
"Outside of emotions, there is going to be a change in Tallmadge. Many won't realize it until we are gone," said Alarcon.
The telecommunicators will be moved to Stow by July 1, when the new Stow system is supposed to be up and running, according to Grimm.
Stow has started construction, but the new radios are not yet in, Alarcon said. "There's no way it will be complete by July 1."
According to Tallmadge Service Director Dave Kline, the equipment is being brought into a warehouse area now and it will be placed after the renovations at the Stow dispatch center are completed.
Kline said he expects the Stow dispatch center to be up and running with the Tallmadge telecommunicators by July 1.
Additionally, City Council approved April 24 the creation of six, part-time records clerks for the Tallmadge Police Department.
In approximately 60 days, the mayor said he hopes to have five or six employees trained for the part-time clerk positions.
Currently, an officer is doing background checks on potential employees and hopes to hire a few by May, Grimm said.
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3911