When Josh Waters took over director duties at the Montgomery County Joint Communications Center six months ago, his mission was to make the center a great place to work.

Now, he’s trying to get more people to work there.

The center is currently understaffed as it has just two employees. A year ago, the center had eight employees.

“When you’re short staffed, you don’t really have time to be bummed,” Waters said. “You just have to work with what you can get and train people who are coming in the door.”

Waters said he placed job openings on social media as well as the Missouri Job Center, which operates out of Warrenton, Mexico and Columbia.

“Currently, we have one hired,” Waters said. “That person is getting ready to start into our training program. But one of the hurdles I’m coming upon right now is that when I get the peoples’ resumes, I send them an application and then they never return the application. The employment world and mindset have kind of flip-flopped on us whereas it used to be the employee who had to be energized and proactive and on top of the employer in order for them to get a job. Now, it has flipped.”

The Montgomery County Commission – which includes 1st District Commissioner Dave Teeter, 2nd District Commissioner Doug Lensing and Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston – held a meeting with numerous emergency workers on July 27 regarding the critical staffing with the 911 Dispatch Department. Waters, Dave Colbert and William Burke with the Montgomery County Ambulance District, Richard Wilson and Mike Arens from the Wellsville Fire Department, Montgomery City Police Chief Jason Luna, Montgomery County Sheriff Craig Allison and Amy LaBanca from Warren County Joint Communications were among the attendees.

Teeter said the hectic work schedule is one of the reasons why there is a shortage of 911 workers all over the country.

“These types of agencies work 24/7,” Teeter said. “Fewer people are willing to work holidays, weekends and extended hours in terms of later in the evening through the night time. They want to pick and choose when they want to work. They can because their job is available.”

Waters, who has been working at the Joint Communications Center since December 2020, was hired as the center’s director in February. He and Katie Davis are the center’s only employees.

“We had some people leave because of some relationship issues,” Teeter said. “We had some leave because they wanted to get a job closer to where they live.”

Teeter said one solution to get more people to work at the 911 center is to recruit high school students.

“We talked to Josh about visiting high school kids who are seniors and maybe want to start a trade,” Teeter said. “Once they turn 18, they can start the training process.”

The Montgomery County Joint Communications Center was moved to 250 Pickering Street in Montgomery City on Dec. 28, 2020 after it was housed at the Montgomery County Courthouse for years. Just a year ago, a proclamation ceremony was held at the center to dedicate the opening of the new building as well as recognize all of the dispatchers.