The City of North Royalton is in the process of looking at options for emergency dispatch services. This comes after the City of Strongsville announced that they will no longer be providing the service starting early next year.
The City of North Royalton received correspondence from Strongsville Mayor Thomas P. Perciak dated July 30 of the termination. It stated, “please consider this communication as formal notice that the City of Strongsville is hereby terminating the Agreement for Public Safety Dispatch Services between the City of Strongsville and the City of North Royalton, effective February 1, 2026, in accordance with the current provisions of our agreement.” That gives the City of North Royalton six months to make a decision as to where the City’s dispatch will be located.
North Royalton Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said that the City of Strongsville said they were joining the Chagrin Valley Regional Dispatch (CVRD) in Bedford. Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center currently hosts dispatch services for the City of Bedford, Village of Bentleyville, Village of Bratenahl, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Village of Chagrin Falls, Chagrin Falls Township, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Village of Cuyahoga Heights, Euclid, Village of Gates Mills, Village of Glenwillow, Village of Highland Hills, Village of Hunting Valley, Independence, Maple Heights, Village of Moreland Hills, Village of Newburgh Heights, Village of North Randall, Village of Orange, Richmond Heights, Seven Hills, Shaker Heights, Solon, South Euclid, Village of South Russell, University Heights, Village of Valley View and Village of Woodmere.
North Royalton first moved their dispatch to Strongsville in March, 2014. Since that time, several other cities were added to the Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center (SWEDC) in Strongsville. The center covered dispatch services for Strongsville, North Royalton, Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township. Antoskiewicz said that earlier this year, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township had left the group and that Berea announced their intention of leaving. He said that because of the number of cities remaining, it would not be enough to continue a vital funding source.
The City is currently paying Strongsville $706,749.00 per year, according to North Royalton Finance Director Jenny Esarey. Antoskiewicz stated that Chagrin Valley has offered the City a contract to join their center. The contract offered runs February 1, 2026, through the end of that year. Antoskiewicz said that the contract would cost the city less than they are currently paying to Strongsville. He said that City Officials are currently reviewing the contract, as well as any other options that may be beneficial to the City. He said that he expects the issue will be introduced at a Council meeting next month.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
