Watertown Charter Township
Minutes of Board of Trustees Special Meeting
May 30, 2007
Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:02 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Board Members Present: Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen, Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Weitzel, and Zay (6:06 P.M.). Staff present: Tubbs
Public Comment: Husby announced that the audit presentation will be at the June 18th meeting.
Agenda Approval: Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried
New Business:
1. Discussion on the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority agreement.
Weitzel addressed defined services - fire protection only or also emergency medical services (ambulance)? Mitchell said that the vision was to eventually get to the point where all services are under one roof. That is the reason for the staffing and equipment. Adams pointed out the business plan specifically mentioned that the ambulance service would be provided by a private ambulance service. Maahs commented that timing is involved in this issue. Thelen commented that the fire station was staffed for the future. Weitzel spoke about timing and costs. Mitchell addressed revenues generated from runs. Adams explained the findings of the ad hoc committee, that revenues will not offset costs. Thelen mentioned that the Board needs to know what the residents want.
Dave Morris (Eagle Township supervisor) stated that there has been support for ambulance service.
Husby explained that the township ordinance would need to be changed and she finds it hard to understand that more staff wouldn’t be needed for ambulance.
Thelen feels that ambulance service would provide better service for the residents and billing is a concern. Husby remarked that they needed to talk about the authority agreement.
Dennis Palmer from Mercy Ambulance explained that they are trying to locate a unit at Flying J more to provide prompt service. He stated that 1600 ambulance runs would be needed for cost recovery. He thinks that there needs to be a better relationship with the fire department.
Mitchell commented that they have asked for written reports from Mercy, but he has not received them.
Rex Waltersdorf asked about the billing procedure.
Motion by Mitchell and seconded by Thelen that the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees move forward with changing the agreement to include transport (ambulance service at the station) provided by the members of the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority personnel.
Adams suggested a simpler motion. Mitchell withdrew his motion and Thelen withdrew her second.
Motion by Mitchell and seconded by Thelen that the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority provide ambulance service as soon as possible.
Thelen doesn’t think that they are financially ready and they haven’t had the public survey. Weitzel and Husby commented that the township has ambulance service presently. Weitzel requested the motion be written in accordance with the bylaws of the board.
Motion by Mitchell and seconded by Thelen to amend the local joint agreement to allow Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority to provide ambulance service as soon as possible.
Yes: Thelen, Mitchell
No: Husby, Weitzel, Zay, Maahs, Adams
Motion failed
Weitzel explained that he is not opposed to providing ambulance service as soon as possible but willing to review the matter at a future date.
Husby referred back to discussion of the expiring authority agreement, asking whether or not the board wants another agreement?
Mitchell feels that going ahead with an agreement is very positive and takes the burden of full funding from Watertown Charter Township. Thelen asked if the township wanted to form an agreement under the urban local joint agreement act as it is. She doesn’t want to give taxing authority to anyone except the Township. Weitzel talked about the duration of the agreement. Husby summed up that the Board wants to go ahead with an agreement and that three-five years seems to be the time period. Husby explained that funding was questioned because we should have a plan to fund services for the period of the agreement and indicate the sources. Is the Township able to negotiate an agreement and maintain the current funding? The consensus is to continue to fund by using general fund monies.
Defining services - The consensus is to continue to provide fire service and MFR/ALS.
The board agrees that the procedure for amendments is needed in the new agreement.
Allocation of costs – What to base the allocation on, how often assessed, Should it remain the same for the life of the contract?
For consistency, it was suggested that assets costs allocation should remain the same to the extent possible. Operating costs allocations could change based on actual services. It was further suggested that the fixed percentage could be applied to equipment above a certain cost or capital assets, not short lived equipment.
The consensus was: to change the basis to “all runs” in Article IX; to take a look at a fixed percentage for high costs and capital assets of the fire authority; to allocate general operating expenses each year based on services “all runs.”
The consensus was that Article XI needs to be changed to be more definitive.
Adams asked about arbitration Article XIII, she prefers the court system to arbitration and suggested that mediation be considered as an option.
Adams and Mitchell, the authority agreement negotiating committee agreed that they had the information and support needed to meet with Eagle Township's representatives.
Public comment:
Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 P.M.
Date approved: ________________ _____________________________
Deb Adams, Supervisor
______________________________
Jean Husby, Clerk