Surfboard Bag,Surfboard Travel Bag,Double Surfboard Bag,Surfboard Travel Bag 2 Boards ZHOUSHAN SKYTOP COMMODITY CO., LTD. , https://www.bodyboard.com.cn
Village of Oak Lawn considers outsourcing dispatching
In a recent article from the Oak Lawn Patch, it was reported that local officials are seriously considering shutting down the village's emergency communications center and partnering with NORCOMM. According to the piece, Oak Lawn's leadership appears to be fully committed to finding a private contractor to take over the management of the village's 911 emergency dispatch operations.
This proposal came as somewhat of a surprise during the special budget meeting held on November 6th. The idea being floated involves outsourcing the roles of the village's 911 emergency dispatchers, which would maintain managerial positions but reassign 20 civilian police jobs currently covered by a union contract to an outside provider.
Kathy Hansen, the director of Oak Lawn's emergency communications, mentioned that due to declining revenues from state-regulated landline surcharges as residents increasingly turn to mobile phones, the department is experiencing a drop in funding while operational costs continue to rise.
Oak Lawn's emergency communications center handles 911 calls not just for the village itself but also for five other police departments and ten fire departments across the southern suburbs. The village is eyeing NORCOMM Public Safety Communications, headquartered in Leyden Township, which was established back in 1994 as Illinois's first 911 call center offering services to police, fire, and emergency medical dispatchers for municipalities and fire districts.
If Oak Lawn decides to partner with NORCOMM, it could save $893,000 over the next two years. These savings could then be redirected towards implementing advanced technologies like the capability to receive emergency text messages, according to Hansen. Additionally, NORCOMM would lease Oak Lawn's modern emergency operations center, providing extra revenue.
Village Manager Larry Deetjen emphasized that NORCOMM offers competitive wages and benefits, along with better advancement opportunities. Current Oak Lawn emergency dispatchers would be given priority when applying for their existing roles under the new arrangement. Instead of adhering to the Metropolitan Alliance of Police's union pension plan, these privatized dispatchers would now contribute to NORCOMM's corporate pension scheme.
Deetjen expressed confidence that many of the 20 affected positions would remain intact, despite the change in employer. He noted that they would still work in the same location and wear the same uniforms, with comparable benefits.
Hansen revealed that by August 2013, the department had already incurred $124,855 in overtime expenses, with one individual receiving $55,000 of that amount. Without overtime, the highest-paid emergency dispatchers earned around $69,000 annually. Adding 40% for benefits brings that figure closer to $97,000 per year.
She clarified that the anticipated savings stem from adjustments in salary and benefit structures, making them more aligned with industry standards. This would also allow for a larger workforce, potentially reducing overtime costs.
Deetjen pointed out that Oak Lawn typically covers about 55% of the emergency dispatch center's operating expenses. Under the proposed arrangement, this financial burden would decrease to 45%.
He also extended an invitation to union leaders, stating that discussions aimed at controlling costs—such as revisiting salary agreements or making other adjustments to preserve jobs—would always be welcome.
"It's a competitive landscape out there," Deetjen remarked, "and communities are exploring options with other service providers, including rival centers and private vendors like NORCOMM."
Thank you, Dan, for sharing this insightful update.