All 911 calls in Des Plaines are now being answered at a dispatch center in Wheeling — a recent switch that both towns’ leaders lauded Monday as mutually beneficial.
Des Plaines’ city council approved a five-year contract last June to outsource its police dispatch services to Wheeling as Des Plaines prepared to close its aging dispatch center. The switch-over took place Jan. 11 without any problems, officials said.
Read more here.
“Des Plaines officials have estimated the city will save $4.1 million over the course of the agreement. Major upgrades would have been necessary to modernize the old dispatch center, located on the second floor of city hall. Some of the problems include outdated equipment and computer systems.”
What don’t Gohl, Harrington, Messer, Meroni and Selman understand about this? Little Village of Barrington Hills can save $6 million (for 4,200 residents) but they say their safety would be at risk? Hog (Horse) wash!
60,000 residents of Des Plaines are happy to save $4.1 million! There are no wails of imperiling the safety of these residents from Des Plaines Trustees.
One thing for sure is that Gohl, Harrington, Messer, Meroni and Selman cannot be accused of is being fiscally responsible! Spend Our Savings!
Carlos,
If you start going down the road of reducing VBH expenditures by outsourcing VBH 911 system, VBH could lose its #1 ranking of being the highest taxed municpality per capita in the Barrington area, see BHO flashbacks below, if not State of Illinois. This would destroy the legacy of “Save 5-Acre” President and majority boards who governed VBH all these years, and for the most part, still do.
Next thing you know is that people like Carlos will want to find out how much money in Millions was lost in appreciation (past, present and future) when the plan was unhatched by then BOT and future Save 5 Acre political teammates of Abboud and Gohl convincing public through referendum that it would be financially prudent to transfer the VBH police pension from Il State run IMRF plan to be managed locally by VBH. or,
the Millions of VBH taxpayer Dollars allocated to the 10 year road repair/replacement program which concluded on 12-31-14 whereby the results were so abysmal, Trustees Meroni and Selman refuse to provide a written report to VBH taxpayers. Instead, Meroni is now opting for a new multi year, multi million dollar capital road program likely to be presented and voted upon at this month’s BOT meeting, or
want an explanation why VBH spent @182,000.00 of VBH taxpayer money to enforce ZBA ‘cease and desist recommendation against Oakwood Farm, to win at both the trial and appellate court level, and then have an unexplained change of heart through the 45 cent Schuman Letter issued 34 days after a secret campaign donation from Oakwood Farm to Save 5 Acres political committee, or
want an explanation regarding the 1.5 Million Dollars in legal expenses paid in the Sears Lawsuit which was settled within 12 months with no liability to VBH once President McLaughlin took office, or
want an explanation why a generous campaign contributor to Save 5 Acres political team ($30,000) received surveying and engineering plans on his formerly owned property at VBH taxpayer expense of @$10,000, or
want an explanation why the emergency camera’s have not been installed at each of the railroad crossings in VBH even though CN Railroad paid VBH for these camperas as part of a negotiated settlement by former Pres. Abboud and Save 5 Acre majority BOT.
Why weren’t these very expensive items to VBH taxpayers on Harrington’s list to investigate? Harrington talks about “impropriety” while McLaughlin talks about “mismanagement of taxpayer money”. Which is really political.
You know better Carlos, you start asking questions of Save 5 Acre BOT about financial accountability to VBH taxpayers, rather than receive answers, Trustees Harrington, Messer and Meroni call you names like “lacky for Marty”, “engaging in political witchhunt or theater”, “engaging in fantasy” or if they really want to be mean and cut you down to the bone, they will call you, “anti-horse” like Messer did with Trustee Konicek. .
Carlos, isn’t it better we the “sheeple” just accept Trustee Harrington’s view of things by simply putting a lid on history and just moving forward for the sake of “Unity”. Isn’t it a fair trade-off Millions of Dollars in waste, mismanagement and corruption in return for “Unity”.
I am feeling better already!
Control. BH’s approach to 911 is systemic of a control culture.
It is right for Barrington Hills to strive to have best in class services. In addition to protecting our unique Open Spaces, conservation, equestrian and tranquil neighbor rights protections; delivering the best in services and safety will help reestablish Barrington Hills as one of the most coveted places to live in the Midwest. Property values will again increase.
However, we can’t afford control if it does not maximize our value and detracts from funding availability for other services (Roads and bridges). We must be prudent in those decisions. NO ONE wants to see any of our staff lose their jobs. However, there are trade offs and having our own 911 center is not in the best interests of the community.
We can have improved redundancy, more effective technology and lower costs without losing intimacy of knowledge of locations and familiarity with local police and fire departments. Change is never easy, but the practical positive impact of a shared expert resource for 911 makes perfect sense.
Unfortunately, too many decisions continue to be made in an emotional manner by inexperienced Trustees and not with fact based logic.