Lake County getting no response from cities, towns about E-911 agreement
By CArrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent October 27, 2012 6:36PM
Updated: November 29, 2012 6:32AM
Little input was received on the latest draft of the interlocal agreement necessary for the consolidation of the county’s emergency dispatch services and members of the Lake County Public Safety Communications Commission, also known as the E-911 Commission, want to make sure officials know time is running out.
Last month the E-911 Commission circulated what was described as a “bare bones” third draft of the interlocal agreement to city and town leaders for input on creating a document on which the 18 units of government could come to an agreement, said John Bushemi, commission attorney.
“I have received no response,” Bushemi said Thursday, adding he did receive a couple technical comments but nothing that impacted content.
Commission members said they, too, received no input from town officials on the document, its content and whether they would support it.
In an attempt to generate some support and clear up and questions, the group approved hosting an informational session for town and city leaders at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Lake County Government Center auditorium to review the latest developments and discuss the need for movement on the interlocal agreement.
Plans include having state legislators on hand to discuss the statute and pending Dec. 31, 2014 emergency dispatch consolidation deadline. The county cannot begin the transfer of E-911 funds for the center until the agreement is signed.
Once an interlocal agreement is signed, the state will incrementally transfer the 911 levy from the cities and towns over four years to the county. Fifty percent of each municipality’s 911 levy will be transferred in 2015 and 2016, 70 percent will be transferred in 2017 and 90 percent will be transferred in 2018.
If an interlocal agreement is not signed all the units in the county stand to lose more than $2 million a year in E-911 funding.
