Kenilworth Wants to Consolidate 911 Service in Glenview; How Would It Affect Residents?

KENILWORTH, IL — Emergency 911 dispatch services for Winnetka, Glencoe and two other North Shore communities might have a new home in Glenview if a deal can be brokered between the villages, according to Winnetka Talk.

Transferring 911 service to Glenview comes thanks to a 2015 state law that allows small municipalities to consolidate their dispatch centers. In addition, Cook County requires that communities with populations of less than 25,000 must consolidate by July of next year.

Glenview—which is the dispatch home for Highland Park, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, as well—was chosen as the new 911 home after the four villages hired an outside consulting group to help figure out the best consolidation option, the report stated. The group found that Glenview made the most sense in terms of efficiency and cost, the report added. The consulting group found that the estimated cost of a combined, four-village dispatch center would cost $2.6 million compared to the $2.3 million contract the communities would sign if they consolidated with Glenview, the Talk reports.

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And how much would the consolidation cost each community? The consultants suggested a cost-sharing plan that breaks down like this for the the four villages, according to the Talk:

• 20 percent of the cost would be a flat fee for the villages
• 40 percent would be based on population
• 40 percent would be based on the volume of calls and other services

Under that formula, these are the estimated amounts each village would pay to cover the 911 dispatch center's $1.2 million operational costs, the report stated:

• Winnetka: $409,516 (34 percent)
• Glencoe: $346,144 (28 percent)
• Northfield: $305,650 (25 percent)
• Kenilworth: $160,308 (13 percent)

Of course, the biggest concern most residents have over consolidation deals with service. At an Aug. 16 Winnetka Village Board meeting, Police Chief Patrick Kries said residents would see no difference in emergency and non-emergency calls if Glenview handled dispatch services, the report stated.

Although all the villages have agreed to pursue consolidation with Glenview, no date has been set for negotiations to start, the report added.

More via Winnetka Talk

PHOTO: (Image via Shutterstock)

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