Mendota is one step closer to joining the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office for dispatch services, but the city will pay more than $400,000 to exit its current contract with Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch.
The council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the withdrawal during Monday night’s meeting.
To withdraw without two years’ notice, Mendota must pay IVRD two years’ worth of fees, which Police Chief Jason Martin said amounts to $418,000.
“The withdrawal from Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch had nothing to do with the services provided,” Alderman Leo Hochstatter said. “This was more about the dollar amount, and making an economic choice.”
Martin said IVRD will be notified of the council’s decision through an attorney. Before Mendota can withdraw, IVRD must provide a comprehensive, itemized statement of all fees, costs and recapture expenses owed to the regional dispatch.
The move also requires approvals from the La Salle County Board and the Joint Emergency Telephone System Board.
Mendota currently pays about $309,000 annually for dispatch services through IVRD, plus an additional $121,000 in related staffing costs, totaling roughly $430,000 yearly, Martin said.
The sheriff’s office and the county’s 911 director offered to take on Mendota’s dispatch for $25,000 plus about $100,000 in 911 surcharge fees — a significant reduction, Martin said.
La Salle Finance Director John Duncan, an IVRD member, countered during a July 23 county board meeting that the county would lose money on the deal. He said a “fair market value” offer would be $347,000, not the $125,000 proposed.
Duncan also noted the county could not guarantee it would receive Mendota’s portion of the 911 surcharge funds, about $100,000, which likely would not pass through the emergency system board.
Duncan was present at Monday’s Mendota City Council meeting but declined to comment.
The council will need to vote again to approve the final termination fees, which will include all associated withdrawal costs, dues and capital improvement expenses the city approved while part of IVRD.
https://www.shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/2026/08/04/mendota-council-votes-to-leave-regional-dispatch-looking-at-418k-price-tag/
