Ambulance millage passes 

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — Gogebic County voters approved the renewal of a three-year emergency medical service millage in the general election on Tuesday.

The unofficial results posted by the Gogebic County clerk on Tuesday showed that 1,880 of 2,410 voters, or 78%, approved the millage. There were 530 votes against the millage.

“I really appreciate the time and effort from everyone who voted, whether they voted for it or against it, because it’s good to see that people get out and vote,” said James Lorenson, chair of the Gogebic County Board and the county ambulance committee. “Obviously, I really appreciate those who voted in support of the millage and their support of quality emergency ambulance service. That was just great.”

The $0.9951 mill rate for each $1,000 of taxable value will be used to supplement the countywide emergency medical care, equipment, training and related medical expenses in coordination with Beacon Area Ambulance and Aspirus Ambulance services.

With the millage approved, the next steps are to complete contract negotiations with Beacon and Aspirus, Lorenson said. The current contracts expire on Dec. 31.

“The negotiations for those contracts are already underway,” he said. 

The goals moving forward are to continue supporting emergency ambulance service, and to reduce response times in Watersmeet township and in other areas of the county, he said. Another goal is to complete the analysis on long-term options for rural health care. 

“The analysis is one that has moved up and that is the direction we are going through,” Lorenson said. 

The ambulance millage was first approved by voters in 2018 when the county determined that Beacon could not continue to provide countywide service without support. The effort was to help ensure rural ambulance service did not lapse and that funds were also available for equipment and training. 

The ad hoc county ambulance committee that formed in 2018 was elevated to a standing county committee in April by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners. The committee works to find solutions to increasing costs, cross-border regulations and rural response times that present problems to rural ambulance services, according to Lorenson. 

Recent actions include putting the committee coordination work within the county emergency management office, he said. The work of coordinator Heidi DeRosso and assistant coordinator Andrew Westeen over the past several months should be acknowledged, he said.

Lorenson also acknowledged the efforts of marketing executive David Sim who put together the presentation information for the community forums. He said county administrator Juliane Giackino and other staff helped with the millage language and provided revenue estimates for the presentations.

“It was a team effort,” Lorenson said. “There were a lot of people who worked directly and indirectly to make this happen.”

Ironwood City Clerk Karen Gullen said the 18% voter turnout on Tuesday was about 5% more than the 13% turnout for the 2019 general election. She attributed the turnout to the ballot items but also to the state of Michigan in authorizing no excuse absentee voting. 

More people are absentee voting because they chose to remain on the permanent absentee voting rolls after the 2020 presidential election, she said. Approximately 85% of those voters responded with mail in ballots for the 2021 general election to help increase the percentage of overall voter turnout.