HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point 911 telecommunicators answer more than 600 calls a day.
"They are the unsung heroes," said Adam Ward with the City of High Point.
Heros can get overwhelmed when there’s not enough bodies to answer calls.
"Of those front-line positions in July, we’re 7 positions down," Ward said.
Ward said they’re still answering calls within 10 seconds 90% of the time, which is the state's required standard.
But it has caused turnover and fatigue.
"The stress of having decreased staffing levels has caused some employee turnover," Ward shared.
That’s why Ward went before the High Point City Council to approve a contract with Moetivations Inc.
The Colorado-based public safety support service company would temporality send people to fill two 911 telecommunicator positions.
"In order to do that Moetivations will send us 5-6 staff members and we can allocate those two 12-hour positions in any way we can see fit," Ward said. "The individuals sent to us will be retired telecommunicators from other areas in the U.S."
City Council approved the more than $177,000 contract at its meeting Monday night.
Ward said this will be a great help while the three people they have in training go through the 8-month process.
"We’re taking this action in a timely and early manner so we have that ability to focus with our new trainees," Ward said.
Just last week the city raised the pay for dispatch from $46,000 to $50,000 yearly hoping to draw in recruits to fill their 4 other vacant positions.