Tri-Township board fires EMT

Crystal Nelson
The Tri-Township EMS Board voted unanimously to terminate EMT William Baker Wednesday evening.

Baker was terminated for the illegal possession and transmission of confidential patient records, for insubordination by refusing to follow a mandatory directive adopted by the board directors regarding intra-facility transfers.

He was suspended earlier for his refusal to follow a mandatory directive and his continual refusal of the directive created financial hardship due to overtime costs to cover his shift.

“I’m sorry to see any employee go under these terms. The law was broken and the board of directors had to take disciplinary action. They did it unanimously and it was the right call,” said EMS Coordinator Dan Albrecht.

The board moved quickly to replace Baker. Of the five applications the board had on file, Pam Raquepaw was selected as the new EMT.

Loud Township’s representative, Thomas Beattie, said the Tri-Township Ambulance permanent home in Atlanta will be finished by the end of this week. The station will be able to hold six ambulances compared to the previous three as well as doubling the number of people who can sleep in the crew quarters. A new classroom was added. The final cost of the building was $282,455.52 instead of the estimated $287,000.

“It’s more than capable of handling our needs,” Chairwoman Bonnie Flynn said of the newly renovated station. “We gave (EMT) classes already and have some scheduled again in the fall.” In other business:

? A letter of thanks was sent to Hobson Electric Co. in Onaway for donating $2,000 in electrical work and an anonymous Briley Township resident donated a color copier, fax and printer to the facility.

? Two defibrillators were purchased for the Vienna Township Fire Department and Canada Creek Ranch. The two defibrillators were purchased for $3,000.

? The board voted unanimously to extend the Oscoda ALS agreement for one year pending the approval of the the Oscoda Board of Commissioners meeting next week.

Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.