Shorewood Approves Merged Dispatch Center

Shorewood village trustees agreed Monday to merge dispatch services with five other North Shore communities, saving $240,000 over 10 years.

A year-long process came to a end as the Village Board approved the measure unanimously. Emergency dispatch services will be shared by Shorewood, River Hills, Bayside, Fox Point, Whitefish Bay and Glendale, with consolidated services out of Bayside starting in spring 2012. The village plans to borrow $400,000 as part of an initial investment.

Under the agreement, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Glendale will remain under agreement with the North Shore Public Safety Commission, and the commission will contract directly with Bayside for dispatch services that already include Fox Point and River Hills. 

Village Manager Chris Swartz still has to finalize details with Bayside officials on the 10-year contract, which automatically renews for another 5 years after the first decade.

Under the consolidation, calls will no longer be routed or transferred but instead go directly to the Bayside dispatch center, improving response times. The village expects to save money by eliminating redundant and expensive technology, and by eliminating staff costs for payroll and benefits.

"The real benefit to Shorewood, is the technology support ... the financial benefits are definitely a real plus," Trustee Michael Maher said.

Bayside Village Manager Andy Pederson said construction would probably go out for bid during the summer, with construction wrapping up by the end of the year and everything in place for operations to start by March 1.

Brown Deer, which operates its own dispatch center, also is contemplating merging with the six North Shore communities for emergency dispatch service. The idea is to have the seven communities that make up the North Shore Fire Department share a joint dispatch service.