An article from *The Doings Hinsdale* highlights the growing debate over the future of emergency dispatch services in the village. Officials are considering a major shift, citing rising costs and concerns about reliability as key reasons for exploring new options.
Currently, Hinsdale has been using Southwest Central Dispatch since 2010, after previously managing its own emergency call center. At the time, the regional system offered a more cost-effective solution, charging less than two-thirds of what it would have cost the village to maintain an in-house operation. However, recent developments have led officials to reevaluate their partnership.
The main issue revolves around fees. While Cook County members of Southwest Central Dispatch receive certain financial benefits, Hinsdale does not. Instead, residents of Hinsdale pay a 50-cent fee for landlines and 73 cents for wireless services on their monthly phone bills—money that is supposed to support the DuPage County Emergency Telephone System Board. But unlike other counties, DuPage refuses to forward these funds to Southwest, leaving Hinsdale to cover the difference.
To compensate, the village currently pays nearly $34,000 annually for landline users, in addition to a $23,000 monthly subscription fee. Officials now fear that Southwest may soon ask Hinsdale to cover surcharges for wireless customers, which could add up to as much as $150,000 per year.
Adding to the concern is Southwest’s plan to build a new facility in Palos Heights. If Hinsdale doesn’t withdraw by the end of the year, the village could be forced to share in the long-term debt associated with this new project.
In a memo to the Village Board, Fire Chief, Police Chief Bradley Bloom, along with the village manager and finance director, expressed doubts about the reliability of Southwest’s equipment and backup systems. This has prompted the village to look into alternative providers.
One potential option is DuPage Public Safety Communications, or DuComm. According to Bloom, DuComm offers a more advanced and reliable system, and local residents are already indirectly paying for its services through the existing 911 surcharge on their phone bills. Switching to DuComm could provide better technology and reduce the financial burden on the village.
As the decision looms, Hinsdale officials are weighing the long-term implications of their current contract versus the potential benefits of a new arrangement. The outcome could shape the future of emergency response in the community for years to come.
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