Allen County 911 Dispatch Center director Chelsie Decker went before Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning to make her case for wage increases for dispatch center employees. 
“We need to stay competitive with surrounding areas,” Decker said. “Right now we’re in a good spot, but I’m worried that unless we make changes, we’ll train employees and then turn around and lose them.”
Decker noted that while Allen County’s dispatch center is an accredited center of excellence, and that dispatchers’ work load is often much larger than neighboring agencies, their starting wage of $15.91 per hour is lower than Anderson, Neosho, and Woodson counties.
She presented commissioners with increases of 5%, 6% and 7% and clarified no additional funding would be needed for the pay raises. A 7% pay increase, along with adjustments that reward years of service, would total $52,000 for the department. That piqued Commission Chairman David Lee’s interest. “You have in your budget $52,000 of potential overage?” he asked.
Decker said she would look for cuts in her department’s budget to allow for the pay hike. “I’m willing to make sacrifices so that we give our employees the pay they deserve,” said Decker.
Still, Lee appeared skeptical, noting many departments are struggling to keep employees. “Folks are fighting to keep employees,” he stated. “You’re not the only one in this boat.”
Along those lines, commissioners have been considering a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for county employees. Discussions of a 3-4% increase are ongoing.
“I think it’s obvious that we need to do some adjusting,” said Commissioner Bruce Symes. He noted, however, that he is careful in his consideration about easy comparisons to other counties. “But this is all good information, and the timing is pretty good because we’re talking about COLA,” he added.
The center currently has 11 full-time and one part-time dispatcher including Decker, with one employee retiring next spring.
Commissioners took no action regarding Decker’s request. 
IN OTHER news,
• Public Works Director Mitch Garner told commissioners plans for recycling at the landfill are still in a “waiting period.” Garner had submitted a request to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to allow for recycling, but was told the plan needed to be rewritten.
“KDHE told us how they want it changed, so we have to change it and send it back to them,” he stated. “Then we’ve got to wait for KDHE to approve it.” The county’s goal is to allow for limited plastic and lithium battery recycling to be available for residents at the landfill.
• Planning and zoning administrator Terry Call addressed the commission about implementing solar regulations for the county. He recently received a phone call expressing interest about putting in an 80-acre solar farm southeast of Humboldt. Months ago he sent commissioners a draft of regulations and suggested the commission adopt some version of them. Commissioners plan to revisit the topic.
• Debbie Bearden with Allen County GROW (Growing Rural Opportunities Works) sought approval from commissioners to approve the appointment of Paige Olson to the GROW Food and Farm Council. They unanimously approved the appointment.
