Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
Police and fire agencies in western Will County feel overlooked as the county moves forward with a new consolidated dispatch center for 30 agencies in eastern Will County. They argue that if the county is funding one group, it should fund all, leading to growing tensions over perceived inequity.
The $5 million plan to build a new dispatch center alongside the Sheriff’s Office facility this year has been criticized by some as “generous but seriously misguided.†A recent resolution from the Bolingbrook Village Board highlights these concerns, calling for a more balanced approach to funding across the county.
Will County officials, however, defend the project as an example of efficient government. They compare it to road improvements made in certain areas without similar investment elsewhere. The state mandates that the number of dispatch centers be reduced from six to three, which is why several agencies are being consolidated into a single location at Laraway Road and Route 52.
This new center will house administrative offices for the county’s 911 board, overseeing all dispatch operations. While WESCOM and Joliet will continue running their own centers, other agencies like the Sheriff’s Office, Lincolnway Communications Center, Romeoville, and EASCOM will be merged into the new facility.
WESCOM, which serves 21 police and fire departments from Bolingbrook to Wilmington, recently approved a $5 million bond to fund its own dispatch center in Plainfield back in 2014. Now, they’re pushing for fairness, arguing that their members are paying twice — once for their own center and again through county-funded projects.
Bolingbrook’s Public Safety Director Tom Ross emphasized that the issue isn’t jealousy, but rather a matter of responsibility to taxpayers. “We’re just asking for equity,†he said. Others, like Crete Mayor Mike Einhorn, acknowledge the challenge of balancing resources across the county but stress that efficiency and cooperation are key goals.
While the new center will serve 33.7% of the population and 31 agencies, WESCOM covers 44% of the county’s population and 21 agencies. Joliet, though serving only 21% of residents, handles a third of all calls. This discrepancy adds to the debate over how resources should be distributed.
Some worry that the new center could lure member agencies away, especially since WESCOM was built with growth in mind. For instance, Romeoville currently splits its fire services between Lockport and its own department, but joining the new center could reduce thousands of call transfers annually. Still, leaders like WESCOM’s Rauter admit they can’t compete with free services.
Even Braidwood, which is part of WESCOM now, is considering moving to the new center. Rauter hopes to address their concerns, but even if they leave, they’ll still have to pay their share of WESCOM’s debt.
As the debate continues, it’s clear that the push for equity and efficiency is shaping the future of emergency services in Will County.
Thanks, Dan
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