Four new Anoka County Central Communications dispatcher positions were unanimously approved the Anoka County Board July 23 in response to a spike in 911 calls this year.
According to Dee Guthman, deputy county administrator, dispatchers are dealing with a very high volume of calls right now, and more dispatchers are needed immediately to deal with them.
The county has not increased the central communications dispatcher staffing in at least four years, Guthman told the management committee..
In an interview, Guthman said call volumes through the end of June are 14,000 more than in the same period a year ago.
There are currently 36 dispatchers in the central communications department who work 12-hour shifts.
