Antioch not ready to join Fox Lake 911

FoxComm can't count on Antioch to offset the cost of its dispatch center.

Antioch Police Chief James Foerster said he has been approached by members of Fox Lake's 911 emergency dispatch center -- FoxComm -- but that he has never seriously considered merging the two centers.

He said while Lake Villa may be ready to jump ship and join up with FoxComm, the announcement out of Fox Lake that Antioch is also ready to merge dispatching systems is not true.

"There are no plans to merge with FoxComm at all," he said.

Trustee Ed Bender, who heads up Fox Lake's public safety committee, would not comment about Antioch.

Foerster said he has been working six months on obtaining grants to help upgrade the dispatch center in Antioch. He said he wouldn't work so long to close the center and merge with FoxComm.

"I am not even considering shutting down our dispatch center," he said.

Fox Lake has been looking for other agencies to come on board and help offset the annual cost of the $1 million dispatch center built in 2005.

The state-of-the-art center costs the village of Fox Lake about $1 million annually to maintain. Therefore, the board has been debating whether to merge the center with CenCom dispatching in Round Lake, or to find alternate agencies to help cover the cost.

Grayslake currently has a three-year contract with FoxComm and pays about $335,000 annually in exchange for dispatching of police, fire and public works crews.

Lake Villa Police Chief Roger Visconti announced the village also is reviewing a proposal to switch from Antioch dispatching and moving over to FoxComm.

Foerster said he understands if Lake Villa switches dispatching services.

"I wouldn't be upset at all," he said. "They should go wherever they get the best deal."