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Effective October 30, 2025, the Village of Winthrop Harbor’s 9-1-1 Dispatch services will transition from the Village of Mundelein to the City of Waukegan.
This change marks the next step in the ongoing regional consolidation of emergency communication systems across Lake County, ensuring continued reliability, efficiency, and access to the latest technology for our community.
Local government provides the most essential day-to-day services that impact our residents above and beyond county, state, and federal government.
From maintaining our streets and parks to ensuring public safety and emergency response, the Village of Winthrop Harbor plays a direct role in the quality of life our residents experience every day. One of the most critical of these services is our 9-1-1 dispatch system, the lifeline that connects residents to police, fire, and emergency medical services in moments of need.
911 State Consolidation Mandates
As part of a statewide requirement to modernize and consolidate emergency communication systems, all Illinois communities were directed to reduce the number of individual 9-1-1 dispatch centers and improve overall efficiency. The goal of this mandate is to:
- Create stronger, more coordinated regional dispatch systems
- Enhance technology and reduce call transfer times
- Ensure that every community, large or small, has access to reliable emergency response resources
Lake County’s Effort Toward Consolidation – The Launch of LakeComm
In response to these requirements, Lake County established a separate governmental entity known as LakeComm to oversee and operate a consolidated, countywide 9-1-1 system.
911 Dispatch Transition Countywide
Many communities are currently undergoing changes as part of the Lake County 911 consolidation effort. Some dispatch centers are merging into LakeComm, while others are transitioning to regional partners. As part of this process, Winthrop Harbor will migrate its 9-1-1 dispatch services to the City of Waukegan. Although this represents a significant operational change, Winthrop Harbor is one of many municipalities making similar adjustments due to the closure of our current 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. All 9-1-1 centers throughout the county, along with state and local technology providers, are working collaboratively to ensure a seamless transition and to maintain the same high level of emergency service that residents depend on.
How Does This Affect Winthrop Harbor? – Consolidated Dispatch Requirements and Their Impact on Our Community
This is not the first time our Village has been part of a consolidation process.
- First round of consolidation: Several years ago, under a prior state mandate, the Village of Winthrop Harbor closed its own communications center that operated out of the Fire Station. After careful study of the available options, the Village entered into an agreement with the Mundelein Dispatch Center to provide dispatch services.
- Second round of consolidation: During the more recent round of statewide consolidation, the Mundelein Dispatch Center announced plans to close and to transition its operations to a newly established governmental entity known as LakeComm.
- Our evaluation: Following these developments, the Village again conducted a detailed review of available dispatch options, evaluating:
- Service qualityMundelein
- Operational reliability
- Technology integration
- Financial impact
- After weighing all factors, Village leadership determined that entering into a partnership with the City of Waukegan offered the best overall fit for Winthrop Harbor at this time.
This decision was made only after careful analysis of all available facts and input from public safety officials, ensuring that our residents continue to receive reliable and responsive emergency services. mundelein
What This Means for Our Community
- When residents dial 9-1-1, their calls are now answered by the City of Waukegan’s consolidated dispatch center, which serves multiple neighboring communities throughout Lake County.
- The dispatchers answering those calls remain highly trained professionals dedicated to providing timely and accurate emergency response coordination.
- This change ensures the same quality of service that residents expect from a 9-1-1 Communications Center, with the only difference being the physical location where the call is received.
- Financially, this partnership helps the Village maintain high service standards while controlling costs and meeting all state requirements for 9-1-1 consolidation.
In summary:
The Village’s decision to join the City of Waukegan’s regional dispatch center reflects our ongoing commitment to public safety and fiscal responsibility. While the location of the dispatch center has changed, the goal remains the same, ensuring that when our residents call for help, professional assistance arrives quickly and efficiently.
We’re excited about this new partnership with the City of Waukegan and sincerely thank their staff and elected officials for their partnership and dedication in bringing this effort together. Their leadership, cooperation, and commitment to improving public safety made this transition possible.
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