BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- Staffing numbers are up and overtime costs are down at the Department of Emergency Services. 

Director Rick Rusaw recently requested a budget modification to cover the $11,250 in overtime expenses during the Sept. 21 Operations Committee meeting. 

"This is an annual resolution to again to cover the overtime for the office for dispatch staff," he said.

The funds will come from a contingency account as the county has had a long-standing budgetary practice that identifies 25% of overtime appropriations for departments that incur overtime expenses. 

Rusaw said another positive to come from Emergency Services comes as dispatch has reached full staffing. 

"On a good note we are fully staffed with dispatch for the first time in the two plus years I've been here," he said. 

Rusaw said some who have come on board recently need to finish their training, however achieving full staffing is a victory for the department. 

In other action, legislators also voted unanimously to accept grant funding for Emergency Services from the New York State Office of Homeland Security. 

Rusaw said the funds are received annually and help to cover the administrative costs associated with the department. 

Officials said the grant funds will be utilized to offset the cost of salaries for administrative staff within the Office of Emergency Services. 

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