Fire/EMS Project

For the past several weeks a special committee has been looking at fire and emergency medical services in Presque Isle Township.  The committee's task is to discern how the Township should handle this aspect of its life in the years to come.

Presque Isle Township is unusual in that for many decades it has contracted with two private, not-for-profit corporations for fire and rescue service.  Most townships in Michigan have departments which are owned and operated by the township board.  In our case, however, we use outside contractors.  The Township Board has responsibility in this area, but no authority because the corporations are legally independent.  As a result, there is no accountability.

The Township Board does not appoint the fire chief, monitor department operations, pass on expenditures, or approve new debt.  The departments are accountable only to their members, not to the township's governing body or the taxpayers.  As a result the Township Board has neglected this area, by taking a "let sleeping dogs lie" approach.  The township's residents are not well served by that approach.

Moreover, the departments are supported by special assessment revenue, and this tax money pays in full or in part for all real estate, vehicles, equipment, and other supplies the departments need.  But these assets become the property of the corporations, not the Township!

As chair of this committee, my job is to help the committee understand our present arrangement, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and then formulate recommendations for action by the Township Board.  The Fire Committee meets tomorrow to talk about recommendations.  More later. •••