Elkhart 9‑1‑1 center cleared to seek quotes to replace aging dispatcher consoles; hiring underway

Dustin McLean of Elkhart’s 9‑1‑1 communications center told the Board of Public Safety Feb. 24 that dispatcher consoles are roughly 25 years old, some controls no longer function and vendor support is no longer available, and he asked permission to request quotes for replacement consoles.

McLean said the vendor and the retailer the city purchased the consoles from have gone out of business and that two consoles are the priority for replacement; the other three may need replacement later. The board authorized a request for quotes and approved moving forward.

McLean also presented the center’s January month‑end report and said the center is in the hiring process: background checks are underway for four candidates in coordination with the police department, with conditional offers expected once checks complete. He said the center expects to bring the new hires into an academy roughly a month from now.

The board approved the communications report by voice vote. The requests were reported as budgeted items that were previously approved during council budget hearings.