METCAD 9-1-1 Enhances Efficiency with Implementation of ASAP to PSAP
On October 7, 2024, METCAD 9-1-1 Center became the 148th Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the United States and the 2nd PSAP in the State of Illinois to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP to PSAP). ASAP to PSAP creates a direct connection between alarm monitoring companies and Champaign County’s 9-1-1 telecommunicators. Previously, […]
Government 101: Resource Expo
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024 City staff from 6 different departments came together to execute the first ever Government 101 Resource Expo at the Champaign Public Library! This event was a collaboration between the City of Champaign and City of Urbana to be a low pressure way for community members to learn about City resources, […]
Brad Hardcastle Receives the Carle Challenge Coin Award
METCAD would like to congratulate Brad Hardcastle on receiving the Carle EMS Systems Office Challenge Coin! Dr. John Aguilar presented Brad with the coin on Tuesday, May 14. The Challenge Coin was awarded to him for his Fire/EMS dispatching during the recent Illinois Marathon Unified Command Post. Brad’s dispatching that day was described as “extremely […]
2024 Telecommunicator of the Year Recipient – Amelia Martin
The METCAD Telecommunicator of the Year for 2024 was awarded to Amelia Martin. Amelia began working at METCAD in October 2011, and 13 years later, she remains a source of positive energy. She shows up every day, ready to do whatever the job asks of her. She puts forth the effort to learn something new […]
Prime Contractor Breakfast
On Friday, March 29, 2024 the City’s Equity and Engagement Department in partnership with the Finance Department, hosted a breakfast for prime contractors to learn more about the City’s procurement process and diversity efforts. City staff were also invited to participate and speak to vendors. More than 30 people were in attendance and our prime […]
METCAD 9-1-1 Services Restored After Brief System Outage on March 7
At 7:53 PM on March 7, 2024, METCAD was notified by an automated AT&T notification that both 9-1-1 circuits serving the METCAD 9-1-1 center were not working. METCAD staff verified that both the 9-1-1 and non-emergency phone lines were not functioning and immediately initiated METCAD’s emergency outage plan, which includes transferring its 9-1-1 lines to […]
City Celebrates Staff for Service and Values
The annual Employee Awards and Service Recognition Ceremony was held on November 15, 2023. This event celebrates the accomplishments and service of City of Champaign staff honored with either an employee award or for achieving a career milestone. This year’s celebration honored 83 employees who received an individual or team award. These staff members were […]
Communities of Practice Blitz
On September 18, 2023, community leaders from Champaign County came together for the Communities of Practice Blitz which launched the work in Phase 2 of the Champaign County Welcoming Plan . This blitz provided members of the Communities of Practice team to sit down and develop actionable plans toward immigrant inclusion in Champaign County. The […]
CU Days 2023!
On August 12, 2023, the Equity and Engagement Department participated in CU Days at Douglas Park by distributing school supplies, City information, and engaging with residents to inform them of upcoming City events. This could not have been accomplished alone; the Champaign Police Department, Champaign Fire Department, Neighborhood Services Department, METCAD, Human Resources, Public Works, […]
METCAD’s Storm Response
On the afternoon of June 29, 2023, Champaign County and surrounding counties were in the path of a strong storm with extremely high winds, known as a derecho. This storm resulted in such a high call volume that the METCAD dispatch center was inundated instantly with 9-1-1 calls once the storm approached. During the first […]