(SANILAC COUNTY) – The Sanilac East Fire Authority held a special meeting earlier this week at Bark Shanty in Port Sanilac, as board members discussed a variety of issues in front of around 25 people in the audience. Although the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of an EMS rig from Sanilac EMS being housed in Port Sanilac, a spirited and pointed conversation quickly turned to several hot button items on the SEFA board.
Prior to the discussion of other matters, McKenzie President and CEO Steve Barnett addressed the board, telling them it didn’t matter to him if an EMS rig was housed in Carsonville (its current location) or in Port Sanilac, as long as the accommodations were the same, or better. The SEFA board has been discussing the merits of having the EMS service housed in Port Sanilac, at the current fire station.
Barnett said there would be no cost to anyone, other than the utilities, and the service would be able to still maintain the coverage they currently have on the eastern side of the county. Board members asked for more information from the fire department, before making a final decision at a future meeting.
In other meeting notes, the village and surrounding townships of Sanilac and Forester have been at odds for several years, regarding fire service. Four years ago, a combined fire protection pact was made, forming SEFA. While all three entities pay into the association, Port Sanilac owns the fire hall and most of the equipment, including trucks.
However, department members have held various fundraisers, and received a $12,000 dollar donation, to help purchase fire hose couplers and fire helmets. Members have also raised funding to buy an All-Terrain Vehicle. Brief discussion was held on the possibility of SEFA providing EMS service, however Chief Doug Moran and Barnett both said it would be costly with just a basic rig costing $150,000 dollars, not including required equipment and properly licensed personnel.
Further discussions are planned for early next year as SEFA members try to work out an equitable solution for all entities.
In discussing the budget for SEFA, the board heard from their auditing company that there is projected revenue of around $174,000 and expenditures of $175,000, leaving a negative balance of around $1,400.
Port Sanilac Village President Ray Mach said at the meeting, “There are some issues with SEFA. There’s been a lot of time spent just to keep the ball rolling with SEFA and some of the audit procedures may have been overlooked.”
Mach and others on the board suggested small claims court may be an avenue for the board to pursue in an attempt to collect outstanding bills.
Prior to Barnett speaking to the group, Mach pointed out there are four options for SEFA to consider. #1 is to continue to run SEFA at a loss until it is forced to dissolve. #2 To establish a fee schedule for Medical First Responder calls and other fire department runs. #3 Discontinue the fire authority totally and #4 Provide service in a different manner – such as providing an EMS rig at the fire hall.
The meeting December 14th was for to discuss having an ambulance in the village. Mach cautioned the board, “if we do not do something, with the financial constraints we have, we (SEFA) will be in trouble.
Residents from Forester and Sanilac Townships told the SEFA board they are concerned with having to go to their taxpayers and tell them they need more money for fire department and EMS services. Forester started out paying just over $20,000 dollars when SEFA was organized.
The cost to the township has since doubled with no indication of how high it will go. Forester taxpayers have a separate fire millage of six-tenths of a mill to help cover the cost of emergency services. likewise, Sanilac Township paid around $25,000 dollars in the first year of the fire authority and now have seen costs escalate to nearly $50,000 dollars.
The SEFA board is scheduled to meet again in January for further discussion on the future for the authority and financial issues.
