Politics & Government
Lake Orion to Discuss Emergency Dispatch Services
A SEMCOG study finds that the village could save money by combining with Oxford.
In a continuing effort to cut costs, the Lake Orion Village Council will hear a report Monday on ways to save money on emergency dispatch services.
Police Chief Jerry Narsh is scheduled to present the results of a study by SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. SEMCOG provided the service free of charge.
In a Dec. 3 memo, Narsh wrote that his department has been conducting “a top to bottom review and cost analysis of the Lake Orion Police Department and dispatch.” As a result, the dispatch center was identified as an area where the village could save money.
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Narsh said the village could combine dispatch services with Oxford, which provides “almost exact services.” Or the village could contract the service out to a third party, such as the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, which provides dispatch services to many communities. The SEMCOG analysis says the village could save $100,000 by combining with Oxford. It doesn’t give a figure for contracting with the sheriff’s department.
Currently, the LOPD is the primary public safety answering point (PSAP) for landline, voice over Internet and some cellular calls for the village and township. Over 70 percent of those calls are for emergency medicals or fires. The sheriff’s office receives most 911 cellular calls originating in the township. Both entities have to transfer some calls to the other.
Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The LOPD responds to police calls in the village, the OCSO responds to police calls in the rest of the township. The fire department responds to emergency medical and fire calls for both.
Also on the agenda
Council will discuss a request from the village’s trash hauler, Rizzo Services, to move collection day to Friday instead of the current Monday. In a letter to the village, Rizzo CEO Chuck Rizzo said the move is necessary “in order to efficiently and effectively continue the quality service the Village of Lake Orion has received in the past.” If approved, Rizzo said all residents would be notified by mail. He asked for the change to take effect the week of Dec. 10, but said he would provide a two-week overlap.
Council will also hear a presentation on its 2011-12 audit and decide whether to hold a second meeting in December.
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the village hall, 37 East Flint.
