Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Bessemer — The Ambulance Committee of the Gogebic County Board will conduct outreach in October for the purpose of explaining the ambulance millage renewal that voters will consider in the Nov. 2 general election.
According to information at the county board meeting on Thursday, committee members are planning to schedule two presentations for government leaders in early October. The presentations would be adapted to the needs of each municipality.
The committee also plans to hold public events starting in mid October. The campaign will include various information messages via standard media and electronic media.
There will be two public information sessions scheduled for the eastern and western ends of the county. Committee members will offer presentations and answer questions.
“We’ve also scheduled negotiation sessions with Aspirus and Beacon,” said James Lorenson, committee and county board chair. “We have distributed the list of governmental unit meetings throughout October and the commissioners are signing up.”
Staffing and financial challenges have continued to impact ambulance services across the country, especially in rural areas, according to the ambulance millage communications plan. Gogebic County is no different and without additional outside funding, emergency medical services would very likely be unable to continue operations.
A report from the county ambulance millage meeting on Aug. 19, showed there was a need for coordinated outreach to inform the public about the need to renew the ambulance millage. The purpose is to inform the public that the rural ambulance system is a critical need and that these services for sparsely populated areas are in crisis in the county and all around the country.
The resident said it is important for residents to know that the millage is not providing a public benefit to a privately owned ambulance provider. The millage provides public funds for ambulances, equipment and staff that would otherwise not be a cost-effective investment for companies to provide these services in rural areas.
The report noted there are efforts to propose independent EMS services. The ambulance committee position is that these types of services take time to put in place, if it is possible at all, and that it is important to consider maintaining the current service available while exploring future options.
EMS service is currently run through oversight from the Gogebic County Emergency Authority. The committee manages the millage and administers emergency ambulance contracts, purchases and leases service equipment and develops long-range planning options.
Gogebic County is currently served by Beacon Ambulance and Aspirus Medevac. Beacon Ambulance has the first option to accept transfers and 911 calls, deferring to Aspirus when needed or when additional crews are unavailable.
In addition to 911 calls and transports, EMS provides CPR training, assists and residences and nursing homes, search and rescue/law enforcement assists, and support at major events.
If the millage fails there would be added pressure placed on fire and police departments and residents during emergency situations, the report said. The medical response efforts would not include the same training or equipment and may require longer assistance times.
The report noted that ambulance service is also critical to economic development.
In establishing an EMS agreement that is partially funded through the millage, the county is providing a service that is essential for potential employers and tourism.
In other business, the county board received the annual audit report. Neil Hammerbacher, a certified public accountant with Gabridge and Company, PLC of Grand Rapids, was present by phone to review the document with the board and answer questions.
This is an unmodified report, he said. If the initial information were not correct then a modified opinion would be updated.
“In layman’s terms, this is a clean opinion and (county) management should be commended for that,” Hammerbacher said.
The board scheduled a special meeting of the finance committee to discuss the 2022 budget at 4 p.m. Oct. 14.
The commission also publicly acknowledged the exceptional work of Deputy Jesse Yesney of the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office. A letter will be sent thanking Yesney as deputy representing the department at the Gogebic County Fair along with thanking the Search and Rescue department for displaying equipment.
