This have been years in the making … and I am so glad to see this get to the finish line.
The city service will be even better because of it. And I hope we continue to look for even more ways to partner with our neighbors on services where it makes sense. Governments need to do more of this stuff, not less. Hopefully this partnership spurs more.
From the city press release …
The City of Oak Creek’s commitment to providing exceptional emergency dispatch services expands as they welcome South Milwaukee into their collaborative partnership. Approved by both Oak Creek and South Milwaukee Common Councils in December 2023, the intergovernmental agreement solidifies Oak Creek’s role in offering emergency dispatch services to South Milwaukee, beginning in 2025. Oak Creek also renewed its agreement with the City of St. Francis through 2035.
The Oak Creek Dispatch Center offers capacity and resilience that South Milwaukee could not afford on its own. The partnership addresses challenges such as staffing shortages due to medical leave, where South Milwaukee had to redirect police officers to dispatch duties. Further, Oak Creek’s capability to directly handle cell phone calls eliminates delays caused by the current transfer process through Milwaukee County.
The partnership aims for cost efficiency and increased staffing levels, with designated dispatchers for each jurisdiction’s channels and shared resources. Committees with representatives from each jurisdiction will be created to provide input and recommendations to encourage additional collaboration.
South Milwaukee Blog 