Gogebic County ambulance service contracts signed

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Ambulance Committee and Board of Commissioners met at the courthouse on Wednesday.

Jim Lorenson, chair of the ambulance committee, reported that the contracts with the Beacon and Aspirus MedEvac services have been signed by all parties and are in place. He reminded the committee that the Aspirus MedEvac contract includes a payment to license staff and rigs at the Eagle River hospital, so Watersmeet Township will be served from the south and east.

Lorenson said that an ambulance service options study has been signed. Lorenson, Emergency Management and 911 Coordinator Heidi DeRosso and County Administrator Juliane Giackino met with the contractor regarding contract timing and billing. Lorenson said that the study is expected to be completed in August, and by early April there will be a kickoff teleconference.

Lorenson also said they applied for the First Responder Training Grant through the Michigan Department of the Treasury as authorized by the board of supervisors. He said that they expect to hear if their application is selected for funding in mid-April. If their application is not selected, Lorenson said they will look at other options with U.P. Michigan Works and perhaps the Lac Vieux Desert Band to fund the training program on the east end of Gogebic County.

The Gogebic County payroll office is also working to determine an easier way to compensate DeRosso for her work on the ambulance committee. Lorenson said they should present a recommendation on how to do this at their meeting in April.

During their regular meeting after the ambulance committee meeting, the county board adopted a resolution requesting overhead signs for the new roundabout at U.S. 2 and U.S. 51 that was completed last year. Board member Dan Siirla said that he was approached to support overhead signage at the roundabout by Iron County Board of Supervisors Chairman Joseph Pinardi.

In her update to the board, Giackino reported that she offered the Gogebic County Fair board’s fair coordinator position to Marlene Saari and she accepted it. Giackino said that she is in the process of setting up training for Saari with the previous fair coordinator, Terrtu Anderson. She said that Saari’s starting salary will be $16.71, but the fair board wants to have her work on acquiring sponsors for the fair and perhaps increase her compensation for any sponsorships.

Per a recommendation by board member Joe Bonovetz, the board authorized Giackino to bill the Gogebic County Fair Board to reimburse her for working on the fair coordinator position after Anderson resigned.

The board of commissioners also authorized emergency management’s countywide community wildfire protection plan service agreement.