Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Bessemer — Members of the Ambulance Committee of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners learned at their June 12 meeting that the county is preparing for an Aug. 6 vote on its ambulance millage.
According to James Lorenson, who chairs both the committee and the board, the county now receives 3-part support in ambulance services from Beacon Ambulance Service Inc. in Ironwood; Aspirus MedEvac of Wausau, Wisconsin; and a group of first responders in Watersmeet.
“Beacon is interested in a renewal,” said Lorenson in reference to an extension of its existing contract.
Regarding Aspirus, he said, “They prefer a new contract rather than an extension.”
Lorenson said the county also plans to provide some financial support for first responders in Watersmeet, who offer immediate emergency response until EMS units from longer distances can arrive in the eastern section of the county.
Details of that financial support have not yet been determined.
George Peterson III, who represents Watersmeet on the board, said the county has offered to provide an emergency vehicle in Watersmeet, but he added that “we can’t find people (there) who are certified.”
Lorenson said the situation has been “difficult” because the county also has not had success in offering payment there for related training.
In the coming weeks, Heidi DeRosso, the county’s emergency management/911 coordinator, will provide two separate presentations to various government leaders throughout the county.
She also will provide presentations to the public at the Bessemer VFW Post 3673 and at the Watersmeet Town Hall. Details on those gatherings will be announced later.
At last week’s meeting, DeRosso also shared a facts booklet on the county’s emergency services.
In the booklet, she shared two public misconceptions on emergency medical services:
One is that some citizens might believe that it is not necessary to vote for the millage because they’ve heard of other municipalities establishing independent EMS units.
In relation to Gogebic County, DeRosso said such services are not yet, and may never be, in a position to exist.
In addition, she wrote, “There are false perceptions that the (millage) funding directly supports Beacon Ambulance.” In fact, she added, millage funds are designed to fund EMS for the entire county.
Without the millage, DeRosso said, “Providers would not be able to operate services without assuming significant losses.”
According to DeRosso, more than 8,860 9-1-1 calls were served in Gogebic County between Jan. 1, 2021 to March 31, 2024.
She added that 794 calls were responded to in the Watersmeet area during the same time period.
In the Aug. 6 election, the county will ask for continuing support of the ambulance millage. The rate requested will be .9943, or less than one mill, meaning less than $1 owed on each $1,000 of taxable value property, for a period of three years, from 2025 to 2027.
