Pharis, 43, of Enid, Oklahoma, was one of five finalists interviewed by the Emergency Management Communication District 911 Board. More than 20 people applied, according to board members.
Pharis is scheduled to start Monday at an annual salary of $81,060.
“I’m ready to get started,” she said. “I will spend a few weeks getting a feel for the job, evaluating the department and observing.”
She said she arrived in Decatur on Wednesday. She was officially hired during a special meeting Jan. 10.
Pharis has been emergency communications supervisor for ASRC Federal Communications at Vance Air Force Base in Enid since 2016. She previously spent 10 years with the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Virginia Alexander, chairwoman of the county 911 board, said Pharis’ experience as a manager in a dispatch center earned her the job.
“She has dealt with public officials and the military, which can be very different,” Alexander said. “She was the most qualified finalist that had been in a 911 director’s seat.”
Alexander said the board was also impressed Pharis did her research about the local situation before her interview.
Board member and Decatur Police Chief Nate Allen said Pharis impressed him during the interview process. “She seemed to be the most knowledgeable,” he said. “I believe it will be a great hire for the board.”
Interim 911 Director Kelly Armor, who did not apply for the director’s position, has been handling the director’s responsibilities since Director Ryan Welty resigned April 13.
“We’re all excited about her being on board and the department moving forward,” Armor said.
In August, the 911 board changed the educational requirements for the director’s position, dropping a required master's degree to a required bachelor’s degree.
At the same time, the board lowered the minimum starting salary to $72,020.90, but the post could pay more depending on experience.
Welty gave no reason for his resignation. However, a month earlier, the board had suspended Welty with pay. The eight-year director was earning $83,202 when he resigned.
Among other business Thursday, the board approved taking over emergency dispatch calls from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. The move won’t become official until the Morgan County Commission meets and approves the action at its regular meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the commission’s agenda, the commission will pay $13,623.21 per month from February to September to the 911 board for the service. Some of the sheriff’s dispatchers are expected to move into the same role with Morgan 911, but the number is unknown.
Board attorney Julian Butler called the vote to combine the 911 and sheriff’s dispatchers a “momentous occasion” in the county’s history.
In a 16-minute review of 2018 calls, Armor said Morgan County 911 handled 64,145 calls including four pre-hospital births.
— mike.wetzel@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. Twitter @DD_Wetzel.
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