Alpena Township Board of Trustees continue looking at options to help fire department

ALPENA, Mich. –  The Alpena Township Board of Trustees continues to look for ways to save the fire department.

The Northside Fire Department is just one place that’s currently affected by the departments staffing crisis.

The board has has been working on what may be the key to a solution that could help save fire services in the township.

Monday the board of trustees met for a regular meeting and discussed some of the pros and cons of a few of their proposals.

Those proposals include disbanding the fire department all together which is the least favorite option, a non or for profit fire department, also a combined or contracted fire department with the city.

Also discussed was the creation of a County-Wide Fire Authority and a Hybrid Fire Department agreement.

Some trustees said their concerns are the residents and it’s time to begin making some concrete decisions.

“Time is of the essence, and those become real issues, and that’s where personally I don’t like to negotiate in a position where my back is against the wall,” said Alpena Township Board Trustee Steven Lappan.

The township still has to meet with the City of Alpena to discuss their proposals.

At the meeting, the board of trustee’s agreed to reach out to MidMichigan Medical Center to explore third party EMS services.

WBKB will continue to keep you updated on township fire plans as they progress.