Bee Cave announces new dispatch provider for area emergency services

The city of Bee Cave reviewed call volume data, operational capacity and long-term cost controls for six months before the Bee Cave City Council approved an agreement with Marble Falls, which will provide equivalent dispatch services at an annual cost of approximately $330,000.

The new agreement will go live Oct. 1. The change will bring upfront transition costs; however, the city will recover those costs within an estimated time frame of two years, according to the news release.

What they’re saying

Interim Bee Cave Police Chief William Pitmon stated the police department would not be moving forward with the transition if they believed it would negatively impact response times and officer safety.

“The reality is that advancements in technology have made the physical location of a dispatcher far less important,” Pitmon said. “This transition saves money over the long term while maintaining the high level of service our community expects.”

How it works

As a member of the Capital Area Council of Governments, the city of Marble Falls operates a regional dispatch center using the same 911 equipment and technology used throughout Central Texas.

As stated in the news release, about 90% of 911 calls originate from cellphones, which allows caller locations to be automatically provided using geo-validation tools; computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, mapping; and the regional 911 system. Calls can be answered and routed immediately regardless of dispatcher location.

Through the agreement, Bee Cave is now a regional partner on the call center advisory board.

“This partnership approach helps ensure long-term cost stability and lowers the risk of similar cost escalation in the future,” the news release states.