Lake County Board members approved the necessary agreements to establish consolidated 9-1-1 and emergency dispatch services in Lake County.
However, Lake County Sheriff’s officials were critical of the decision due to concerns they have with the intergovernmental agreements finalized, because they said their needs were ignored when the consolidation plan went through the process over previous years, and for not being allowed to utilize the new multi-million dollar building unless the sheriff’s office agreed to give LakeComm full operational control.
The first of two intergovernmental agreements approved by the Lake County Board during its June 11 meeting establishes the creation of LakeComm as the main consolidated public safety answering point for unincorporated areas of Lake County, partnering agencies, and attached municipalities, officials said.
Lake County will serve as one of the founding members of the LakeComm 9-1-1 call center responsible for answering calls for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services.
Joining Lake County as founding members include the Village of Antioch, First Fire Protection District (FPD) of Antioch, Beach Park FPD, Countryside FPD, the Village of Fox Lake, Fox Lake FPD, Village of Gurnee, Greater Round Lake FPD, the Village of Island Lake, Lake Villa FPD, Village of Lake Zurich, Village of Mundelein, City of North Chicago, Village of Round Lake, Village of Round Lake Beach, Village of Round Lake Heights, Village of Round Lake Park, Village of Vernon Hills, Wauconda FPD and the City of Zion.
The LakeComm agreement also establishes a requirement for a long-term lease for dedicated space for LakeComm in the new Regional Operations and Communications Facility being constructed on Lake County’s Libertyville campus.
The second intergovernmental agreement establishes a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board, which receives 9-1-1 surcharge funds and serves as the oversight board responsible for managing the operational aspects of the overall 9-1-1 system.
“It is through this unprecedented collaboration between the county and our municipal partners that we are able to take another important step forward in the process that will reduce response times and ultimately save lives,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “We will be able to provide the residents of Lake County and visitors with a faster, more coordinated emergency response system that they not only expect but deserve.”
However, Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said he pulled his department out of joining the new consolidated dispatch center because the current plan is not beneficial to the sheriff’s office or the residents it serves.
Idleburg utilized public comment time during the board meeting Thursday to express his concerns with the intergovernmental agreements as written and urged the county board to pump the brakes on passing the resolutions.
In addition, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Idleburg noted dispatch consolidation is only beneficial for the smaller law enforcement agencies participating in the program – not an agency the size of the sheriff’s office – and was critical of senior-level staff at the county administrator’s office for not addressing the sheriff’s offices’ concerns with the consolidation plan over the years.
“The decision was made following very careful analysis of the public safety pros and cons. Ultimately, we found the trajectory of the plan would handcuff the constitutional authorities and responsibilities held by the Sheriff,” Covelli said. “We must put the safety of the public first, and cannot allow our staff to face increased risks in the field, leading to greater risk to the public we serve. It is important to note the sheriff’s office led the technology component of the consolidation and remains committed to utilizing the same 911 phone system and computer systems as nearly every other municipality in Lake County. This alleviates much of the concern when it comes to call transfers.”
Covelli also said the sheriff’s decision to withdraw from the consolidation plan does not allow the sheriff’s office to utilize the new multi-million dollar building unless they agree to full consolidation of their dispatch operations and relinquish operational control to the future LakeComm Board of Directors.
Waukegan has also withdrawn from the consolidation agreement.
The intergovernmental agreements approved by the board Thursday state the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will be granted membership to LakeComm upon written request.
Any governmental entities not already on board are eligible to join the new consolidated dispatch center, officials said, but those joining after July 1 will require approval by a two-thirds vote of the LakeComm member board.
It’s anticipated the new LakeComm services will be operational after the new facility is completed by late summer or early fall of 2025.
“As a board member who has seen this initiative slowly progress over the past seven years, I am excited we have moved to this next step of the process,” said Lake County Board Member Linda Pedersen, representing District 1 in Antioch and Lindenhurst. “Having personally experienced a call transfer delay during an emergent situation, I know we will be better equipped to provide faster, more coordinated emergency responses, which is critical to the safety of our residents, visitors and businesses.”
Regional 9-1-1 consolidation has been a top priority for Lake County and its municipal and agency partners for over a decade, authorities said. This move to consolidate was spearheaded by Illinois Law mandating any county with a population of at least 250,000 and more than one ETSB should consolidate.
“Much work has been done by the County and its many partners to get to this point. Moving forward, we are committed to this effort to improve 9-1-1 services and increase public safety for all our residents, visitors and communities,” said Lake County Board member Kevin Hunter, representing District 5 in Fox Lake, Ingleside, and Lake Villa. “We look forward to the next phases of this very complex 9-1-1 consolidation in Lake County.”