University Heights Joins Joint Dispatch Center Plan

University Heights became part of Shaker, Cleveland Heights, and South Euclid’s plan for a joint police-fire dispatch center on Monday. Its tentative location is South Euclid.

The application was approved by City Council during an afternoon special session.

“This is a project our cities have been working on for two and a half years,” University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld said in a cleveland.com article. "It's part of a state mandate that, in order to continue to receive 911 funds we have to go with regional dispatch centers." She also indicated that the participating cities were hoping for any additional participation from other interested Hillcrest communities.

Both cities Euclid and Beachwood, who at one point offered to be the host city, have since dropped out for nonspecific reasons. The cities taking part will apply for regional collaboration grants from Cuyahoga County.

Cleveland.com also reported that the four cities’ law directors were working out an agreement to establish a regional Council of Governments.

University Heights Finance Director Larry Heiser said that $1 million should be adequate to fund the project and that South Euclid already has a potential site and building lined up.