Aurora, Naperville exploring more public safety collaboration

As the second- and fifth-largest cities in the state, Aurora and Naperville handle a large volume of 911 emergency calls at dispatch centers operated by each police department.

But before a 911 operator can take a call, a governing board approves the use of taxes collected by the state to fund operations at each dispatch center.

Those governing bodies are called Emergency Telephone System Boards, and while Naperville has had its own since 1992, Aurora is part of a board established in Kane County in 1989.

That could change if a push by both cities to form a joint Emergency Telephone System Board is successful.

Aurora and Naperville plan to maintain separate 911 dispatch centers, but the cities are in talks to create a joint governing board in an example of what they call "good government collaboration."

In a potential intergovernmental agreement, Aurora could leave the Kane County Emergency Telephone System Board and merge with the Naperville board. The resulting body would oversee funds from the 911 surcharge on landlines, cellphones and prepaid cellphone service and distribute the money to 911 centers in both communities.

The push is prompted by a state law that requires consolidation of the number of 911 dispatch centers in Illinois by July 2017.

Carie Anne Ergo, chief management officer for the city of Aurora, said the law affects Kane County, where the majority of Aurora is located. Instead of looking to collaborate with another 911 center in Kane County, Aurora wants to partner with Naperville because the two cities use compatible technology.

The cities in 2008 collaborated on a contract for an interoperable digital radio system, which was installed for roughly $24 million before police and firefighters began using it in late 2010.

"Aurora and Naperville jointly purchased their radio systems together and saved millions for taxpayers," Ergo said. "The two communities already serve in failover capacities for their 911 centers. Naperville and Aurora have been partners and collaborators for years."

Forming a joint governing board for emergency communications could allow that to continue.

"It would basically preserve the ability of Aurora and Naperville to continue to collaborate on the equipment purchases and technology purchases," Ergo said. "It's going to preserve and strengthen that relationship."

To the end user who calls 911 in Naperville or Aurora, the change to a joint Emergency Telephone System Board won't make a difference, authorities say.

The new board would include representation from public safety employees and residents of Aurora and Naperville, and it would continue to review taxes received from the 911 surcharge.

"We look at the financials. We approve the use of the 911 surcharge funds to fund the costs related to our telecommunications system," said Naperville police Chief Robert Marshall, who is the chairman of the Naperville Emergency Telephone System Board. The board has approved use of roughly $5.6 million during the past three years. "That money helps to fund our communication system and our (911) center."

A joint board for Aurora and Naperville wouldn't change the amount each community receives from the taxes paid within its borders, nor would it automatically decrease expenses.

"It's not necessarily going to lead to any type of efficiencies or cost savings," Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said. "But it does lead to the next natural discussion, which is 'How can we leverage each other's 911 dispatch service?' That's a more difficult conversation."

Chirico said he's told Aurora officials he wants to explore the possibility.

"Are there ways for us to take advantage of each other's facilities to better and more efficiently deliver that service? We both have state-of-the-art facilities - do we need to have two?" Chirico said. "I don't know. Those are questions we need to ask."