After learning the Brady Township Board will consider leaving the South County Fire Authority recently, the Wakeshma Township Board is considering a departure from the South County Fire Authority as well and approached the Climax Township Board to consider entering into a one-year agreement for fire and medical first responder services provided by the Climax Township Fire Department.
Brady Township Clerk Reagan Hunter said the township board will consider pulling out of the South County Fire Authority at a March 5 meeting.
Brady Township, Vicksburg Village, Prairie Ronde Township, Schoolcraft Township, Schoolcraft Village, and Wakeshma Township currently make up the South County Fire Authority.
It was noted at the February 11 Climax Township Board meeting Brady Township will consider contracting with the Pavilion Township Fire Department for fire and medical first responder services, however a Pavilion Township official said there is no contract in place and only discussion has taken place. It was also noted in the January 8 Brady Charter Township minutes an intent to seek other alternatives for providing fire protection/MFR/EMS services.
Wakeshma Township Supervisor Jason Gatlin said Wakeshma Township currently pays the South County Fire Authority a monthly fee of nearly $5000, which is based on a formula using the township’s taxable value, population and usage.
According to a South County Monthly Incident Summary, 5.90% of the South County Fire Authority runs were in Wakeshma Township in 2024, 7.37% in 2023 and 7.06% in 2022.
Gatlin said Brady Township pays approximately 27% towards the South County Fire Authority budget and Wakeshma Township’s share is 5-8%.
Gatlin said the township would likely face an increase in expense to help make up the lost revenue with Brady Township pulling out of the Fire Authority. However he emphasized Wakeshma Township’s location is the biggest concern. Without Brady Township available to respond, he said Wakeshma Township residents could be isolated. The closest municipality to Wakeshma Township in the South County Fire Authority would be the Vicksburg Fire Department.
“It leaves us on an island way out on the east side, where there is nothing. Most of the response comes from Schoolcraft Village, which is station one, and station two is Vicksburg Village. They’re where the response will be coming from. So it leaves us way out here on our own,” Gatlin said.
Gatlin said under the terms of the agreement with the South County Fire Authority, Wakeshma Township has to provide a one year notice of intent to leave the Fire Authority, meaning the Fire Authority would have to receive written notice by the Fire Board Authority’s next scheduled meeting March 19. He said Wakeshma Township’s next regular board meeting is March 3. The next scheduled regular meeting for Climax Township is March 11, meaning the proposed agreement would have to be reviewed by the Climax Township attorney and be forwarded to the Wakeshma Township Board to consider by March 3. Gatlin said his board could have a special meeting and then Climax Township could consider the agreement at its next regular meeting March 11.
Because a quick decision would be needed, Wakeshma Township would pay for an extra Climax Township board meeting if one was needed before the March 19 deadline.
If the two boards come to an agreement, the contract would not begin until April 1, 2026.
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith requested a proposed agreement that was included in the February 11 regular Climax Township Board meeting packet, be forwarded to the township attorney to review.
Smith said Wakeshma Township is proposing a one year agreement for fire and medical first responder service in exchange for $64,778 Wakeshma Township currently receives for a 1-mill fire millage in place.
Smith said based on run numbers for 2024, the Climax Township Fire Department ran 259 calls and spent roughly $120,000 which comes out to $463 per call. He said South County had 98 calls for service in Wakeshma Township in 2022 and 2023 and 79 calls in 2024.
It was pointed out the $463 per call was for calls in Climax Township and there would be additional costs for fuel and man power when responding to a run in Wakeshma Township.
However Smith felt the Wakeshma Township fire millage money should cover the additional cost.
Gatlin said the Wakeshma Township Board is aware the per run cost for Climax Township would be higher running calls outside of the township. He said the township board calculates Wakeshma Township’s cost per run with a contract with Climax Township would be approximately $706, which he said is based on the annual cost to Climax Township divided by the average number of calls for service the last three years.
“If it costs Climax Township $463 a run for themselves, we definitely need to, and want to be, above that amount. You’re running further into Wakeshma. If you can cover costs at $463, then we want to go above and beyond and put everything we’ve got in our fire fund towards that service,” said Gatlin.
Gatlin said after the first year of the agreement, the two sides would review the number of calls for service and expense to determine if the current 1-mill fire millage in Wakeshma Township that will be considered in 2027, needs to be increased slightly.
Gatlin said if Wakeshma Township leaves the Fire Authority, all of the equipment and firefighters go with the Fire Authority, however firefighters could respond to mutual aid calls. The Wakeshma Township firefighters would have the option to join Climax Township, allowing them to respond to a call for service by the Climax Township Fire Department in Wakeshma Township.
“I think it’s the best thing for the community. I think it’s the best thing for everybody. You’re tying up resources also. You have to think about that too. Even though we’re paying and we’re part of the authority. you’re bringing in someone from the west side of the county. You’re bringing them all the way over here. Without Brady there, I’m assuming there won’t be a station going in there that would support South County at that point,” said Gatlin, who said Leonidas and Athens were not considered because those two municipalities are in another county, which he said could create other issues.
Under the proposed agreement Climax Township would have to provide insurance coverage sufficient to cover any liabilities arising from the performance of the services under the agreement. Both parties would agree to indemnify and hold each other harmless from any liability, claims, or damages arising from the actions of their respective employees, agents or contractors in the course of performing the agreement.
Either party may terminate the agreement by providing written notice to the other party at least six months in advance. In the event of termination, Wakeshma Township shall be obligated to pay for all fire services rendered up until the effective date of termination.
There is also a Dispute Resolution section in the proposed agreement.
In other items covered at the February 11 meeting:
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith said the local fire department responded to 26 calls for the month of January. Among those calls, 15 were EMS, seven dispatched and cancelled enroute, two vehicle accidents with injuries and one public service call for service.
The Climax Township Board approved a resignation letter from Board of Review member Dana Perrin.
The Township Board unanimously approved six resolutions covering wage increases effective April 1, 2025. They include:
• Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer compensation be adjusted from $15/hour to $16.50/hour.
• Trustee compensation be adjusted from $95 per meeting to $105 per board meeting.
• Board of Review compensation be adjusted from $14/hour to $15.50/hour and compensation for Board of Review members increased from $55 per board meeting to $65 per board meeting.
• Planning Commission compensation from $70 to $85 per meeting for the chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary and Planning Commission members from $60 to $75 per meeting.
• Election Staff compensation will be adjusted also. The Chairperson’s hourly wage will move from $15/hour to $17/hour, election inspectors from $13/hour to $15/hour. Compensation for required training will be the hourly rate as well as mileage to attend training if it is not held at the township hall.
• Firefighter officer’s compensation will be adjusted from $21/hour to $22.50/hour, firefighter’s compensation increased from $17.50/hour to $19/hour, and fire chief annual compensation adjusted from $5,000 to $5,500 per year. Probationary wages are at the current rate of $12.48/hour and will automatically change when the Michigan State Minimum Wage amount is changed.
• The Township Board unanimously approved a motion to amend the cemetery rate to include a columbarium second burial at $600 if placed in the same niche.
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