An article in the Oak Lawn Patch details a major shift in how the village plans to handle its emergency communications: officials are considering closing the local 911 center and outsourcing its operations to a private company, Norcomm. At a special budget meeting on November 6, the proposal to outsource 911 dispatch services came as no surprise to many. The plan would see the village’s current 20 civilian police positions, which are covered under a union contract, transition to Norcomm. While managers would remain in place, the dispatchers themselves would become employees of the private contractor. Kathy Hansen, Oak Lawn’s emergency communications director, explained that the department is facing financial challenges due to declining revenue from state-mandated surcharges—surveys show that more people are switching to cell phones, reducing the number of landlines that generate this income. At the same time, operational costs continue to climb. The emergency communications center not only serves Oak Lawn but also supports five local police departments and ten fire departments across the south suburbs. This shared model has been in place for years, but with rising costs, the village is looking for a more sustainable solution. Norcomm Public Safety Communications, based in Leyden Township, has been operating since 1994 and is known as Illinois’ first 911 call center. It provides dispatch services for police, fire, and emergency medical responders across multiple municipalities. According to Hansen, outsourcing to Norcomm could save the village nearly $893,000 over the next two years. These savings could be used to invest in next-generation technologies, such as text-to-911 capabilities. Additionally, Norcomm would lease the existing emergency center, generating extra revenue for the village. Village Manager Larry Deetjen emphasized that Norcomm offers competitive wages and benefits, with better opportunities for career advancement. Current dispatchers would have the first chance to apply for their roles, though they would transition to Norcomm’s corporate pension plan instead of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police’s union plan. “I think many of those 20 positions would want to stay, even if it’s a different company,†Deetjen said. “They’ll work at the same location, wear the same uniforms, and have comparable benefits.†Hansen also highlighted some cost concerns within the department. Overtime pay through August 2013 totaled $124,855, with one individual receiving $55,000 in overtime alone. Without overtime, top earners made around $69,000, with an additional $28,000 in benefits, bringing total compensation to about $97,000 per year. She noted that Norcomm’s salary structure is more market-driven and could allow for more dispatchers to be hired, improving service efficiency. Deetjen added that under the new arrangement, the village’s share of costs would drop from 55% to 45%. Deetjen also left the door open for further discussions with union leaders, suggesting that negotiations could help manage costs while preserving jobs. He mentioned that other communities are exploring similar options, including partnerships with competing centers or private vendors like Norcomm. Thanks, Dan. Vertical Sewage Pump Vertical Sewage Pump,submersible pump vertical,semi submersible vertical sump pump Sichuan Zhongying Industrial Pump Co., Ltd , https://www.zygyb.com