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IVRD representative tells county board Mendota offer undercuts other agencies, warns against subsidy
Summary
John Duncan of IVRD told the LaSalle County board that the county's offer to Mendota is below market, risks subsidizing one municipality, and that membership rules and the IGA require proper procedure for territory changes and fund reallocations.
John Duncan, speaking to the LaSalle County Board, pushed back on county and sheriff's office characterizations of the Mendota offer. He said members of the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch (IVRD) view the county proposal as financially unfair to other dispatch members and cautioned board members against treating JETSB-held surcharge balances as the county’s unilateral discretionary funds.
"If the county makes a decision to just give Mendota dispatch for $25,000, that would be irresponsible of the county board members and not in the best interest of all of the taxpayers of the community," Duncan said. He also read a response he had solicited from the statewide 9-1-1 administrator to counter claims that surcharge funds are strictly for police: "Section 35... explicitly supports all public safety answering points or PSAP operations and integrated dispatch systems, which includes fire, EMS, and other first responders dispatched through 9-1-1." However, Duncan urged careful compliance with the IGA and said the JETSB and member votes matter for reallocation decisions.
Duncan asked the board to press for transparency, including a regular financial report showing each member’s proportionate share of JETSB balances, and to consider formal cost-sharing so Mendota would pay its pro rata share if it joins the county PSAP.
