WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Westcom Emergency Communications, which handles dispatch services for six cities across the Des Moines metro, is pushing ahead with its plan to become an independent group.
The consolidated dispatch facility currently takes public safety calls from Clive, Norwalk, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights. Over the years, each participating city decided to eliminate its separate dispatch centers and operate through Westcom instead.
Each participating city has seen major population growth in recent years, and more people are calling for service every year, according to WestCom Emergency Communications Chief Udell Mentola.
"The six cities since 2020 have grown 15.5 percent, and that's just the population of people that live there," Mentola told Local 5.
Westcom currently contracts its human resources and finance services through the city of West Des Moines. The finances come directly from the cities, which has created some funding shortfalls.
The separation would allow Westcom to seek out its funding sources, rather than relying on what the cities can provide.
"Due to growth and expansion and so on, at some point, we should be able to stand up as our own independent agency instead of being dependent on them," Mentola said.
If the organization were to get that additional funding, Mentola says Westcom could grow its staff, build more communication towers and move into a larger facility.
The staff piece is a big focus. Westcom's dispatch center in West Des Moines is currently short-staffed; its growth strategy entails hiring four additional staff members - two employees and two telecommunicators - by 2025.
"We run a six-month training process, so even after hiring new employees, we still have to look down the road," Mentola said. "We need to have our own finance, our own HR."
Council members from each city would need to approve Westcom's separation plan before it goes into effect.