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Council approves county dispatching contract; close vote and savings estimate draw debate
Summary
After discussion about staffing and long-term costs, the council adopted a resolution to contract dispatching services to the county; supporters cited an estimated $1.37 million savings over 4.5 years while at least one member said the city should retain local dispatch staff for community service reasons.
The council voted to authorize the safety-service director to contract with the county for dispatching services, moving London’s 9-1-1 dispatch function from an in-house model toward county-provided service.
Chief Nickel (police chief) and other staff outlined the cost comparison: purchasing a new dispatching system would cost about $412,786 plus roughly $25,000 per year in maintenance; contracting with the county was presented as saving approximately $1,373,625.49 over a 4.5-year period if the service change starts in July. Staff noted the county already covers significant overnight shifts and some day shifts for the city and that, after 2027, costs would be covered by the city’s 9-1-1 tax levy renewal as structured.
Council members raised staffing and service issues. One council member said he strongly prefers the city keep its own dispatchers so residents can walk in and speak to a local person; another member emphasized staffing shortages and noted the county already handles many shifts. The contract contains a 180-day written termination clause for either party, which council members discussed as a protection point.
The resolution passed on roll-call with five yes votes and one recorded no. The council directed staff to move forward with the contractual arrangements and to continue work on job descriptions for a building receptionist/administrative hire that would remain under local control.
