Lake Forest /Lake Bluff Dispatch: When is enough enough?

In this economy, it is understood that everyone is trying to save money and is willing to cut a few corners.  My question: Is it possible to go too far when cutting back involves our safety? 

Lake Forest and Lake Bluff are considering shutting down their central dispatch centers.  Central dispatch has operators in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff who answer our 911 and non-emergency calls (parking issues, noise and animal issues, utility issues, vacation watches, misc questions, and more) directly.  They provide a great service to the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. The city employed dispatchers know the residents, the streets, the ordinances, the city departments, city employees, and more that are tailored to our community.  The community will not get that degree of service in a consolidated center. Once our dispatch center is gone, it is near impossible to get it back according to the news article : http://lakeforest.suntimes.com/news/dispatch-LFR-10172013:article .


In addition, dispatchers are in the police department buildings 24/7/365.  If there is an emergency where we have go to the police departments after normal business hours, no one will be there.  For example, if your child feels that they are being followed (walking or while driving), goes to the police department for help, the doors will be locked and NO ONE will be there.  There will be a phone that goes to the consolidated center in Glenview and/or Highland Park.  From there, rely on where our emergency or non-emergency lies on their list of priority calls.

The potential $400,000-$500,000/year in PROJECTED "savings" for the next few years puts not only resident's lives in danger, but also the lives of the police officers and the fire fighters/paramedics.

There must be somewhere less critical in the City's quite sizeable budget to save a projected (not vetted) $400,000-$500,000/year.

I hope to see you at the next Lake Forest / Lake Bluff City Council Meetings!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msg8jHG_BlQ