Dean Narciso, The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

The Upper Arlington City Council approved an additional $21,000 last night to further study merging its police- and fire-dispatching services with four other communities.

Pennsylvania-based L.R. Kimball already has presented a study to the city, along with Dublin, Hilliard, Worthington and Norwich Township. The consultant was paid more than $80,000 for that work, with money from each of the municipalities and from a state grant.

But some Upper Arlington officials were not satisfied with the results.

“We got very little utility out of the first version,” Councilman John Adams told council members. “I was very disappointed.”

Councilwoman Debbie Johnson asked whether the new study will specify how much consolidation would cost the city.

Finance Director Cathe Armstrong said the study should have the answer.

The additional study will provide “more detailed and more focused information that pertains specifically to the city of Upper Arlington,” according to a staff memo. Options, besides consolidation, will be included, such as improvements to existing police- and fire-dispatch operations and possible technology upgrades.

Hilliard and Norwich Township use Dublin’s communications center for police and fire dispatching. Worthington has not decided on merging.

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