WARREN — Trumbull County Commissioners are expected to vote unanimously to hire Huron County 911 Coordinator Tacy Bond as the county’s new 911 director during today’s meeting.
Bond was one of three finalists, each of the commissioners interviewed individually for the position. One candidate dropped out of the race shortly after these individual interviews.
Bond, whose father was a police officer and police detective, said being around law enforcement and public safety all her life encouraged her to try to become a dispatcher.
“I first applied when I was 18” she said. “They didn’t hire me because they thought I might be too immature.”
Two years later, she applied again and got her first dispatcher position. Since then it has been going non-stop.
“I love what I’m doing,” said Bond. “I love shipping and I’m trying to design better environments for people working in shipping centers.”
Being hired as the new director of Trumbull’s 911 will be one of Bond’s greatest accomplishments and one of her greatest challenges.
“It’s going to be a good thing for (Trumbull) 911, its employees, the residents and me,” said Bond.
She has already held talks with interim 911 director Patty Goldner, who will return as the department’s assistant director, but with additional duties under a new structure.
Goldner will take over some of the responsibilities of 911 operations manager Roger Laird, who unexpectedly retired last month. The county will not hire a replacement for Laird. An information technology specialist from the county auditor’s office will be used to resolve technical issues at the dispatch center in Howland.
Goldner served as interim director for three years. She also recently assumed the duties of Laird.
Bond’s starting salary will be $44.75 an hour, which would represent an annual salary of $93,085.62. However, after he completes his 120-day probationary period, the salary will increase to $46.83 per hour, or $97,428.08 per year. Based on her nearly 27 years of service with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Bond will earn five weeks of vacation.
As 911 assistant director and operations coordinator, Goldner will earn $38.84 an hour, which equates to an annual salary of $80,792.58. She has been working in the municipality for 23 years.
In 2022, Bond became one of 37 people in Ohio to receive professional emergency number certification.
Commissioner Nikki Franko said Bond’s earning this certification puts her ahead of other candidates in securing Franko’s recommendation to be hired as 911 director.
“Having someone who has this specific, highly specialized certification, I think, will put our county in the position of being one of the best-run 911 centers,” – said Franco. “My goal has always been to have the brightest and most qualified people working for the county.”
Commission President Denny Malloy described Bond as a good player with more than 26 years of experience.
“Those we got referrals from didn’t want to lose her,” Malloy said. “I believe she’ll come into the position with a lot of respect from dispatchers because she’s worked (her way) up the ranks.” She will be the Dispatch Director. Malloy said.
Bond, working with Goldner, will immediately begin looking for a new home for the dispatch center and work to reverse the trend of dispatchers being lost over the past several years.
Malloy said the county will shed light on the county’s 911 dispatch. He noted that too often people are hired and trained by Trumbull County and then go elsewhere for higher pay and more opportunities for advancement.
Commissioners aim to make Trumbull 911 a place where experienced dispatchers come for advancement opportunities.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamesa said Bond’s lifelong commitment to the field worked to convince him she was the best candidate.
“She has a wealth of knowledge,” Cantalamesa said. “In her interview, she was already outlining some cost-saving measures. It projects both personal and long-term goals. She was head and shoulders above the other candidates.
While searching for a 911 director, commissioners are also looking for a new home for the center.
Malloy said commissioners have had some discussions about a site in Warren owned by the Western Reserve Port Authority as a possible location. The site has been discussed over the past week during separate talks in which the Trumbull County Combined Health District intends to relocate to Cortland.