Lake Zurich agrees to take over Wauconda dispatch
Lake Zurich trustees have approved a deal for the village to take over emergency dispatching for Wauconda.
Wauconda officials cited expected cost savings in pursuing the new dispatching arrangement that's to start May 11.
At a meeting Monday evening, Lake Zurich's elected officials approved separate four-year contracts for the village to handle neighboring Wauconda's police and fire 911 calls.
Based on Wauconda's 2015 police calls, Lake Zurich will charge that village $222,000 in the deal's first year at a projected savings of about $530,000. Wauconda village officials ratified their end of the deal in February.
Under the second contract, the Wauconda Fire Protection District, which is separate from village government, will be charged $122,000 in the first year of the contract for Lake Zurich's dispatching services, also based on the 2015 call volume. Wauconda fire district officials approved the contract last month.
Lake Zurich's 911 emergency dispatching center is in the village's police headquarters on Mohawk Trail. Police Chief Steven Husak said the center is run well and respected in the industry, which is why it is serving more towns that want to consolidate services.
“We started with Hawthorn Woods and Kildeer being partners with us, but that's grown by word-of-mouth and professional reputation to Island Lake, Tower Lakes and both Wauconda police and fire,” Husak said. “We're very proud of the people we have.”
Wauconda began the move toward the consolidation of dispatch services in 2013. Some residents and business operators protested the move and expressed concern about the layoffs of 11 Wauconda dispatching center employees.
Without in-house dispatching, Wauconda's police station won't be staffed 24 hours a day. Because jail detainees must be monitored regularly, officials said there could be problems if Wauconda had to place someone in jail overnight.
Officials plan for Wauconda's prisoners to be held in Lake Zurich's police station because it is staffed 24 hours a day. Wauconda would pay $75 for each detainee sent to Lake Zurich.
Lake Zurich approved its end of the prisoner arrangement Monday. Wauconda village board members will be presented with the document tonight.