Winnebago County approves intergovernmental dispatch agreements after debate over costs and oversight

The Winnebago County Board on Feb. 27 approved intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) to provide fire and EMS dispatch services for the city of South Beloit and the Winbur Sue Fire Protection District, following extended discussion about costs, automatic renewal language and financial oversight.

The board's Public Safety and Judiciary Committee chair, Mr. Lindmark, moved the measures, and both were approved by the full board with all members present casting yes votes. Eighteen board members were present for the meeting; two were absent.

Chief Ciganek, speaking for county dispatch staff, said the $15-per-call figure in the South Beloit agreement "was not based on, expense per call. It was based on, their current, dispatcher... charges $15 a call." Lindmark said the county is matching that rate to entice outside fire departments to use the county's dispatch center.

Board member Miss Fellers pressed for fiscal clarity and warned against committing county funds without a better estimate of long-term costs. "I just don't think that we should be spending money that we don't have," she said, adding that the county already faces more than $20 million in unfunded federal agreements, according to a list she requested from staff.

County staff and other board members said the arrangement is designed to improve emergency response times and firefighter safety by consolidating dispatch under the county. Mr. Arena, a board member who supported the agreements, said the county will provide "faster service to the citizens of Winnebago County" and supported the measure despite fiscal concerns.

Board members focused on three principal cost items: (1) the $15-per-call price charged to incoming departments; (2) the county's projected subsidy covering five telecommunicator positions in the 9-1-1 center; and (3) equipment and network costs. Chief Ciganek said the anticipated county shortfall relates to five telecommunicator positions that are being subsidized by the county.

On contract language, a proposal by Miss Fellers to remove the agreement's automatic-renewal clause (section 8.a) and require a six-month audit was discussed but ultimately withdrawn. Instead, staff counsel said the board may pursue a separate resolution requiring a cost analysis; committee members agreed that a county-led audit or cost study could be adopted without amending the negotiated IGAs. Miss Vaughn, addressing contract language, noted that any county equipment expenses tied to the agreement would be covered by funds available through the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB).

Several board members urged patience while additional agencies join the county dispatch network; Mr. McDonald said full cost recovery is more likely once the larger departments sign on. Mr. Penny asked whether the current staff level is sufficient; staff said the budget includes five additional telecommunicator positions for the year and the center currently has three vacancies.

After public and board discussion, the South Beloit IGA and the Winbur Sue IGA were approved with the motions moved and seconded on the floor and put to the vote. The board also recorded that the South Beloit agreement allows termination on 30 days' notice and contains an annual renewal structure (the board debated whether to remove the automatic-renewal language but left the contract as written).

The board directed staff to consider a separate resolution or committee action to produce a six-month cost analysis of the dispatch program to inform any future renegotiation or budgeting decisions.

Ending: The dispatch IGAs take effect as executed by the chairman; the county will continue to report to the board as implementation progresses and additional fire protection districts are invited to join the county dispatch network.