SCBC designate 911 Dispatcher as First Responders

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved a motion designating 911 Emergency Telecommunication Officers as First Responders.

According to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers the designation will allow the county to allocate COVID-19 relief funds to pay the salaries of the 911 dispatchers.

“The reason this is needed is because we’ve got two COVID-19 Relief Fund reimbursement programs going on,” Ayers said. “You’ve got one from FEMA that Danielle has been taking the charge on, and then we got the Governor’s CARES portal.”

Stephens County EMA Director Danielle Rhodes said the designation was recommended by the GEMA Area Coordinator.

A motion was made by Commissioner Michelle Ivester approving the resolution designating 911 Emergency Telecommunication Officers as First Responders, with Commissioner Debbie Whitlock seconding the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.