Plans were recently approved for the renovation of the Public Safety Dispatch Center. Plans call for the redesign and relocation of the center, to create a dedicated dispatch area with: a more efficient layout, updated electrical and proper computer and electronics equipment mounting. The intent is to give the center the added capacity it needs to handle an increasing volume of public safety calls.

When the current dispatch center was built, the police department was handling approximately 11,800 calls for service per year. At present, it handles roughly 18,000 calls annually. The projected number of annual calls for 2010 is near 22,500.

Public Safety Dispatchers are trained to perform several functions at a high level, including: taking 911 calls, taking non-emergency calls, dispatching for the Police and Fire & Rescue departments, record keeping, incident entry, attending to in-person inquiries after regular business hours, and providing additional departmental support.
With the creation of a dedicated, more efficient workspace, dispatchers will be better equipped to handle increased call volumes, after-hours counter traffic, and all of their departmental support duties at a high level of performance. The renovation project is expected to cost $74,876. It will be paid for with dollars from the Public Safety Impact Fee Fund, not property taxes.

Work on the project is now underway. If all goes as expected, the project should be complete in roughly two months. While renovations are being completed, Public Safety Dispatchers will operate out of their existing dispatch center allowing for uninterrupted service.