As LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby are faced with costly mandatory upgrades to their 911 centers the state is urging all independent centers to regionalize operations and consolidate into one building with the next generation 911 system. State of Illinois announced Friday it will fund a 1.5 million dollar investment for the new 911 center.
The $1.5 million investment, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), will be used to build the Illinois Valley 911 regional dispatch center. LaSalle, Peru and Oglesby currently operate local 911 dispatch centers, which will be consolidated into a single regional public safety center. The new dispatch center, located in Oglesby, will provide dispatch services to regional police, fire and EMS agencies. The centralization is intended to improve 911-dispatch services, emergency response times, public safety and the cost-effectiveness of services.
The new 911 center would be built in Oglesby in about 18 months after consulting with a 911 consultant, officials would like to see the center built by Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) since this location would let all three police departments quick access to the facility since it will have to serve as a jail holding facility as well. It is not expected that dispatchers would lose their jobs. Each city’s police, fire and ambulance service would continue to serve each city.