05-02-2025
Push continues to centralized dispatching in Mahoning County
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Several Mahoning County fire chiefs are once again pushing for a centralized dispatching system instead of having to pay more for the service.
Right now, Austintown handles calls for more than 20 different agencies as part of a local Council of Governments that oversees Mahoning County's 911 system. It's one of seven Public Safety Answering Points (P-SAP) in the county, and local fire chiefs say it's time for a change.
'When we see incidences that are worked every single day by multiple agencies, cohesively operating out of multiple dispatch centers, is a challenge and it's a safety concern,' said Boardman Fire Chief Mark Pitzer.
Pitzer points to last May's explosion at the Realty Building in Youngstown as well as the East Palestine train derailment as big examples. He addressed leaders with the local 911 COG saying responders had trouble communicating with each other directly because of so many different dispatching locations.
'And without having somebody to be able to coordinate those resources, that's where we have a problem,' Pitzer said.
Recently, Austintown notified its agencies indicating it needs to change the fees charged for dispatching — doubling what some communities are paying now. Officials say the change would help cover the costs of manpower, equipment, and technology and ensure all pay their fair share, but some think there's a better way.
'I think that when you consolidate, you have economics of scale and over time, you become more efficient and you save money,' said Western Reserve Join Fire District Chief David Comstock.
'We've seen a lot of communities throughout the United States that will tell you it does not save you money. It's like and ongoing research project on what's best for the taxpayers,' said Chief Deputy William Cappabianca with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.
While no decisions were made Tuesday, many don't see any coming soon. Leaders hope the discussion will push communities closer to one day working together to create a more efficient system that also saves money.
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