OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Officials and citizens alike got their first and possibly their last look after they snipped the ribbon on the new Kalamazoo County 911 Consolidated Dispatch center on Stadium Drive in Oshtemo Thursday evening.
It looks like an unassuming office building built in the woods, but the 4-million dollar complex will serve as the communications hub for police, fire and ambulance countywide.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell noted he was just starting his first job as an EMT when talks began of consolidating dispatch 30 years ago.
He says he had no idea it would take so long to reach this point.
Executive Director of the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority Jeff Troyer says this will essentially save lives by getting the nearest first responder available to the emergency, and it will cut costs and save money overtime.
The public got a final look before the center becomes a high security area with bullet proof walls and windows.
It will be phased into service over a two day period late this month.
