Dispatch funding approved

River Hills - A resolution authorizing the village to borrow money for its share of the capital cost of a new dispatch center drew a few questions but eventually passed scrutiny and was passed by the Village Board on Oct. 19.

The village will be part of a joint bond sale with Bayside and Fox Point, saving some of the costs of a bond issue. River Hills' share of the bond is an amount not to exceed $310,000.

Each of the seven communities that will be served by the center are paying an equal share of the cost to build and equip an addition to Bayside Village Hall.

River Hills and Fox Point have contracted with Bayside for dispatch services for a number of years. Sometime next summer, once the building addition is done, Bayside will begin dispatching for Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Brown Deer and the North Shore Fire Department.

With additional communities, there is a need for more space in Bayside for dispatching.

"Why not have them (the new communities) pay for the cost of the addition then?" Trustee Mike White asked.

Village Manager Tom Tollaksen said River Hills agreed to pay an equal share in its contract with Bayside.

The village will receive minimal additional savings over the next 10 to 20 years, Tollaksen said. The village realized a savings of more than $80,000 a year when it first moved its dispatch services to Bayside.