Semiconductor Ultra High Purity Tubing Semiconductor Ultra High Purity Tubing,High Purity Instrumentation Tubing,316 Semiconductor Ultra High Purity Tubings,High Purity Tubing Instrumentation Tubing Tianchang Filet High Tech Metals Co.,Ltd , https://www.highpressuretube.com
State mandated consolidation of 911 dispatch centers
Excerpts from Telegraph.com:
Supporters of statewide 911 system consolidation, including Governor Bruce Rauner’s office, have long argued that merging local emergency response systems into a single, unified network is a positive move. However, officials in Madison County are not convinced. Many fire and police chiefs in the area believe that reducing the number of public safety answering points (PSAPs) from 16 to 8 could compromise both public safety and local budgets.
Illinois Public Act 099-0006 became effective on January 1, 2016, establishing the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator to oversee the development of a uniform 911 system across the state, excluding areas with populations over 500,000—Chicago being the sole exception. Counties with more than 250,000 residents were required to submit consolidation plans, aiming to cut PSAP numbers by half.
Catherine Kelly, a spokesperson for Rauner’s office, previously stated that consolidation improves efficiency and makes better use of taxpayer funds while enhancing public safety. But county leaders remain skeptical. In 1989, Madison County voters approved a 67-cent phone surcharge to fund its 911 system. The county has since invested in a Next Generation 911 system, an IP-based platform that allows for seamless digital communication between callers and first responders.
East Alton Mayor Joe Silkwood emphasized that the current system works well. “When people call 911, we get calls efficiently and effectively,†he said. Meanwhile, concerns about job losses and increased costs have raised red flags among local officials. With 225 dispatchers currently employed across 16 PSAPs, many fear that consolidation could lead to layoffs, especially as dispatchers handle more than just emergency calls.
Wood River Police Chief Otis Steward explained that dispatchers also manage jail monitoring, warrant entries, and other critical tasks. “Dispatching probably accounts for only five percent of what they do,†he noted. “We’re not giving up our dispatch to another center.†Other departments, like Bethalto and East Alton, have also expressed reluctance to hand over their dispatch operations.
Currently, dispatchers are paid by the city or department that employs them, while the equipment—like CAD systems and GIS mapping—is funded through the 911 surcharge. If multiple departments retain their own dispatchers, costs could rise significantly, and it remains unclear who will bear the financial burden.
Madison County’s Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) recently submitted a waiver requesting an extra year to complete consolidation beyond the July 1, 2017 deadline. The state will review the request within 90 days. In the meantime, ETSB plans to commission an independent study to evaluate the feasibility of different consolidation options, including labor agreements, dispatch center improvements, and cost implications.