After months of discussion, or lack of it, there's a glimpse of unity. And the Iroquois County 9-1-1 Board is taking control to oversee operations in the 9-1-1 Center, including managing the emergency dispatchers.

The new fiscal year – December 1st – will find the 9-1-1 Board stepping up to keep the county's critical emergency dispatching services intact.

The County Board's Policy & Procedure committee gave its nod of approval (Wednesday).

A newly-organized County Board takes over Monday, December 1st. The Board officially reorganizes following the 2014 elections.

It was the County Board's pressure, led by former Chairman Rod Copas, that kept the two sides apart in trying to resolve differences. Copas had pushed to have the County Board take over dispatching services. But the 9-1-1 Board members insisted they have the expertise to make the necessary critical conditions to operate dispatching to meet the public safety needs of the public.

9-1-1 Coordinator Nita Dubble reported Wednesday that emergency first-response agencies are returning signed-contracts to the 9-1-1 Board that find those agencies are OK with continuing dispatch services as they have been over the years.

The 9-1-1 Board is being reduced from 12 to six members. The County Board will have representation.

Leftover funds from the dissolved ICOM Board are being turned over to the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). That funding totals $96, 633.

94.1 WGFA