Village Board Votes for $1.775 Million KenCom Compromise

In a 4-2 vote Tuesday night the Oswego Village Board approved an agreement capping Kendall County’s annual contribution for KenCom 911 services to $1.775 million.

The vote could leave the status of an agreement over sharing emergency dispatch costs in limbo, as Yorkville approved a higher cap last week. Oswego Trustees Gail Johnson, Scott Volpe, Tony Giles and Judy Sollinger voted for the compromise while Trustees Jeff Lawson and Terry Michels voted against.

The county has covered any  operating expenses that went over the 911 telephone surcharge money collected dating to when the dispatch service was created more than 20 years ago. But in November,  supported a proposal that capped its annual contribution to $1.6 million, with Oswego, Yorkville and Plano covering any additional costs.

The three towns  and a proposal capping the county’s contribution at $1.88 million. Then, the County Board countered last month with a $1.775 million cap.

The more recent proposals also include referendums that will ask voters whether the want to double the 911 dispatch surcharge, which presently is 75 cents.

Last week, the Yorkville City Council agreed to a $1,829,752 cap. The Plano Village Board recently voted 4-3 to delay a vote on their agreement.

After voting against the compromise at Tuesday’s meeting, Michels said he understands the public safety issues at hand, but his vote was one of principle.

“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes here that I don’t think people realize,” he said. “We’ve already compromised, and the county said that wasn’t good enough. I believe our residents are taxed enough on this already."

Reached Wednesday morning, Sollinger said she wasn’t comfortable with the vote, but doesn’t want to see the issue drug through the courts.

“We’ve paid so much in legal fees on this already,” she said. “It's time to move on."

The lawsuit surrounding the payment issue is next due in Kendall County Court on Friday.