Butler County will consider hiring two new full-time 911 dispatchers.

Steve Bicehouse, county emergency services director, on Wednesday told the county salary board that they would help dispatch 911 calls that come from Butler.

In July, the county 911 center took over police dispatching for the city. At the time, the county hired five part-time dispatchers to help with the additional volume of calls.

Since then, Bicehouse said overtime costs show a “very telling tale” about how many more calls the 911 center has taken.

From Jan. 1, 2015, to Feb. 28, 2015, the 911 center got about 11,000 police calls. In that same time this year, it got 15,200 calls — a 24 percent increase.

Rob McLafferty, 911 coordinator, said the increase in calls and the need for more dispatchers is not surprising. In 2005, he said an analyst told emergency services that taking on city calls would require two extra full-timers.

McLafferty said the full-time positions would cost the county $67,000 with the new dispatchers making about $21 per hour with benefits. However, he said the decrease in overtime would save the county $77,000, leading to a net savings of $10,000.

“We really believe this is going to save the county money,” McLafferty said.

He said that dispatchers have to stay late or do double shifts “all the time” due to employee call offs and other reasons. The 911 center has a good staff, but he said supervisors get worried about staff wanting to leave due to extra hours.

The commissioners said the new positions would be good for the county.

“There’s a lot positive to this,” said Commissioner Kevin Boozel.

Commissioner Kim Geyer agreed: “We’re investing in public safety.”

The county salary board will vote next Thursday on the positions.

Additionally, the board will consider eliminating the position of motor pool director and having the county bridge manager temporarily supervise the motor pool.

The former motor pool director retired at the end of 2015 and his position was not filled. Kevin Gray, bridge manager, will make $74,116 total this year for taking on the motor pool duties. In 2017, his salary would revert to $57,616 — his current salary.

Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said that Gray will manage the motor pool and also will analyze the needs at the motor pool, and will report to the commissioners with his findings.

Boozel said Gray has motor pool experience from his previous job, and noted that the bridge crew is near the motor pool. He also said that the extra money Gray will be paid is much less than it would cost to have an outside agency do a study on the motor pool needs.

The salary board also will consider creating four part-time, 1,000-hour maximum election assistants at $15.30 per hour.

Shari Brewer, director of elections, said the elections bureau normally takes on one assistant to help out with elections. In presidential election years, like this year, it takes on another two assistants.

“Our workload increases dramatically,” she said.

This year, Brewer is asking for a fourth assistant to help out when needed because one of her full-time employees is on medical leave.