North Royalton committee adds Chagrin Valley dispatch ordinance amid chiefs’ warnings

North Royalton’s Safety Committee voted Sept. 16 to add Ordinance 25-134 — a participation agreement to move police and fire dispatch to the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council (CVD) — to the Council agenda for further consideration.

Law Director Tom Kelly told the committee Strongsville has advised partner communities it will cease providing dispatch services, leaving North Royalton to find a new provider by Feb. 1. Kelly said CVD is the primary available provider and would credit the city for equipment already paid for at Strongsville; he said the CVD transition asks for an up-front assistance payment of about $55,000 and that the monthly fee is expected to be “not insignificant,” previously described in the discussion as on the order of “$5,000 or $10,000 a month” but not specified in the agreement paperwork reviewed in committee.

Police Chief Keith Tarase strongly opposed an immediate move to CVD. “I disagree with all of that. I’m not in favor of this,” Tarase said, arguing the city should study alternatives including restoring a North Royalton dispatch center (potentially leasing space in Bedford Heights), partnering with nearby cities such as Brook Park or Middleburg Heights, or exploring North Olmsted’s model. Tarase warned that large regional centers can lack local familiarity with streets and procedures, and he noted the CVD agreement appears to allow CVD to retain equipment the city has already purchased if North Royalton later leaves the COG.

Fire Chief Robert Chegan said fire operations depend on fast, coordinated mutual aid and described past incidents when thin dispatch staffing hampered responses. Still, Chegan said he saw reasons to favor CVD for the short term because of redundancy and technical support. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz and Law Director Tom Kelly said the city faces a practical deadline to ensure uninterrupted coverage and that joining CVD now would not preclude exploring alternatives later.

Committee discussion covered equipment upgrade needs and costs (Motorola pricing for a single radio console was cited as roughly $120,000 in one example), the possibility that CVD could pass capital-improvement costs to participating cities, and whether communities that move under a large COG will retain meaningful operational influence. Police Lieutenant Redrup and other staff compared how similarly sized Ohio cities handle dispatch, noting both independent and regional models exist.

Members of the public and police department staff urged consideration of a local dispatch staffed by residents familiar with the city. Citizen Joel Spatz suggested using CVD temporarily if needed but budgeting next year to study restoring local dispatch.

The committee’s short-term action was procedural: Vice Chair Heidi Webber moved, and John Nickell seconded, a motion to add Ordinance 25-134 to the Council agenda; the motion carried (Yeas: Nickell, Webber; Excused: Wos). The Council will receive the ordinance and supporting materials for a future vote. The committee adjourned at 8:27 p.m.

What happens next: council staff and administration were asked to provide cost comparisons and options (estimates for local restoration, potential partner PSAPs, and an outline of capital and personnel costs) to inform Council’s decision ahead of the Feb. 1 operational deadline.