Chongqing Wishcarry Trade Co.,Ltd. , https://www.wishcarry-cooler.com
From excerpts on MySuburbanLife.com:
In a recent decision, the city of Woodstock has officially signed off on an intergovernmental pact to merge its dispatch operations with the McHenry Police Department's dispatch center. The current annual expense to run the Woodstock dispatch center stands at around $856,000, while estimates suggest the new arrangement will cost approximately $502,000 in the initial year.
As part of this transition, the city will need to cover two one-time expenses: roughly $144,000 for dispatch equipment and $189,000 for severance packages for the six Woodstock dispatchers whose roles are being phased out, based on the terms of the agreement.
Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen noted that one downside of this change is that the local dispatch center staff won't be available 24/7 at the police department anymore, and new dispatchers may not be as familiar with the city. “There will be a loss of that direct connection; however, over time, the consolidated dispatch center will grow more accustomed to the nuances of our area," he stated.
This expanded facility will now be referred to as the McHenry County Northeastern Regional Communications Center, or NERCOMM. Presently, it handles dispatch duties for agencies such as McHenry police, Johnsburg police, McCullom Lake police, McHenry Township Fire Protection District, Marengo fire, Marengo rescue, and Union fire. It’s in the process of expanding further to incorporate Harvard and Marengo, in line with a state directive to halve the number of dispatch centers.
Currently, the Woodstock dispatch center employs eight full-time and two part-time dispatchers. Under the new plan, one full-timer will move into a records clerk role within the Woodstock police department, while five Others will join the ranks of NERCOMM dispatchers.
The Woodstock Fire Rescue District contributes around $84,000 annually to cover the city's dispatch services. However, with this new agreement, the district anticipates their costs rising to $120,000. In light of this, the city of Woodstock has committed to subsidizing the fire district up to $36,000 per year for the next five years, according to Woodstock Finance Director Paul Christensen.
“The city is seeing significant savings, so we're happy to share some of those savings with the fire district during the first five years to help offset the increased costs,†Christensen explained.
The unanimous approval for this agreement took place during the most recent Woodstock City Council meeting. While the transition presents certain challenges, many see it as a step toward greater efficiency and cost-saving measures across the region.