Strength in numbers

 Last night, the final in a very important series of dominoes, came down when the Coppell City Council approved an Interlocal Agreement that would create a combined public safety communications and 9.1.1 center for Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Addison and Coppell.

   First, this is an historic thing.

 We aren't the first neighborhood of cities to do this in DFW but we are among the largest group that will result in big advantages for our collective cities.

  The new center, likely to be housed in Carrollton, will still function like our communications center functions now. 

   When you call, we will be there to help.

   On our end the consolidated center means a pooling of resources that will result in even better inter-agency cooperation and cost savings over time (about $12 million over 20 years).

   Recognition and praise should be extended to the Mayors and Councilmembers from Carrollton, Addison, Coppell and Farmers Branch for their diligence, patience and foresight to stick with this very important project. They clearly have the long-term interests of their constituents at heart.

   This is just the latest example of cooperation between cities that allows for an increase in efficiency and a decrease in cost.

   In 2012, a combined SWAT team was formed between our same four cities, staffed by 10 officers each from Farmers Branch, Addison and Coppell and 24 from the larger Carrollton Police Department. These officers train together and our cities share the cost of specialized equipment needed for SWAT operations.

   And, rest assured, these discussions are ongoing to seek out new opportunities to share resources for the greater good of all our citizens.

Consolidated Communications

Historic four-City venture clears huge hurdle

FARMERS BRANCH ~ The creation of a four-city, consolidated public safety communications center took a giant step towards reality Tuesday with approval by the Coppell City Council of an interlocal agreement to create the operation, following previous adoption by the cities of Farmers Branch, Carrollton and Addison.

   The interlocal agreement creates the Metrocrest Quad Cities Local Government Corporation that will oversee and operate the consolidated communications center, which will handle 9.1.1 calls as well as Police and Fire dispatch for all four cities.

   Further, the agreement establishes a Board of Directors, consisting of the four City Managers, who will select an Executive Director or Communications Call Center Manager to supervise the new facility.

   "This is the best of all worlds," said Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller. "Police activity can frequently spill over borders of small communities as close as ours are. With a consolidated communications center, the transfer of information between agencies will be completely seamless."

   Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker echoed those sentiments when addressing multi-jurisdictional issues. 

   "We assist, and are assisted by, our neighboring agencies every day," he explained. "When we're out on a full response, Carrollton or Addison will cover our station for anything else that happens. Consolidated dispatch will make that process even better and should improve response times for everyone."

   The consolidation of emergency communications functions for the four cities will result in approximately $12 million in savings in the first 20 years, according to a report on the project. 

   Additionally, with the current advent of an all-new radio system in the four cities, cost for installing the system in a single facility, rather than four, could result in a $500,000 savings.

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