Consolidation Leads to Lay-Offs

The McMechen City (WV) city council has voted to lay off their six public safety dispatchers and move dispatching operations to Marshall County’s comm center by Jan. 7th. Dispatcher Judy Deaton is a 13-year veteran, and told a reporter, “I’m upset. I’m dedicated to the job. I’m good at it. I enjoy it. All of our dispatchers are experienced.” The town is over $580,000 in debt, mayor Paul Maxwell noted. “And if we don’t do something and do it quick, then we’re going to have to tax the residents for money they don’t have,” he added. The move will save the town about $50,000.