The Parma Heights and Brooklyn city councils have approved a measure to pay Parma to handle emergency dispatch duties for them.
Ron Van Kirk, a Brooklyn councilman, says he believes hiring Parma dispatchers is a good idea, noting that regionalization is on the way, and this will put these communities ahead of the curve.
He added that having a regional center will give Brooklyn taxpayers better service, noting that Brooklyn usually only has one dispatcher on duty at any given time, while the regional center will have several available.
Although the contract with Parma will cost Brooklyn $212,000 for a single year, Van Kirk says this is still less than the city would pay in payroll expenses under the current system. He believes Brooklyn residents will be pleased with the service, since it will save them money while retaining high-quality service.
Parma Heights, which is also hiring Parma dispatchers to handle its calls, will pay approximately $287,000 for its contract. Parma, Parma Heights, and Brooklyn will share the dispatchers' services, but the center will be located in Parma. The Parma City Council has approved a $3.2m expenditure for the center, of which it will borrow $2.5m. The city also received a grant of $972,000 from Cuyahoga County to buy equipment for the center.
Parma officials might consider working with a postcard printing company on a card for residents, explaining the new system.
