By Rafael Marquez
Kyle is looking to Hays County to help improve efficiency at its Emergency Communications Center (ECC), as the city has outgrown its current facility.
County and city officials believe the potential co-located Emergency Communications Center, part of a $106.4 million bond initiative, could alleviate issues if approved by voters.
Hays County officials gave a presentation earlier this month regarding the ECC, which would combine the offices of the city of Kyle’s dispatch team with the Hays County dispatch team.
The move would increase efficiency by consolidating operations to a single location for dispatching 911 calls. The new facility is needed because the county and city have outgrown its current facilities, Hays County officials said.
Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said the city’s current facilities don’t meet the needs of the city it serves.
Even if the bond package is not approved, the current facility will need to be replaced, he said.
“We have outgrown our dispatch facility and our current police headquarters,” Barnett said.
Barnett said that whether or not voters approve the bonds, the timeline to move into the new facility is at least three years, as a new building would have to be designed, approved and built.
The new building will most likely be located in San Marcos, which would require Kyle’s dispatch staff to travel to San Marcos for work.
If the bonds are not approved, then the city will need to look at a different solution for housing the 9-1-1 dispatch team.
Barnett said the San Marcos Police Department and the Texas State Police Department both opted to not participate in the co-location facility. Both SMPD and TX State PD will have the option to join the facility at a later date if they chose.
