ALPENA TOWNSHIP –When residents in the Charter Township of Alpena passed a five-year equipment millage in 2018, they did so with the intent of replacing an aging fleet of fire trucks and ambulances.

Thus far, the township has acquired a pair of new ambulances, complete with powered stretcher systems. The township is now beginning the process of possibly obtaining a new fire engine.

At Monday’s township Board of Trustees meeting, the board voted to draft requests for proposals for not only a new engine, but also a new tanker truck.

The estimated cost of the engine is about $560,000 and the price tag of a tanker about $250,000. Township officials hope bids will come in favorably and they may be able to take advantage of some purchase incentives.

Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said the 0.65-mill tax, which costs the owner of a $100,000 house about $32.50 a year, brings in about $250,000 a year for the township. The township has already used several years’ worth of revenue for the ambulances, which totaled nearly $460,000. He said a portion of the remaining funds can be used to pay for the engine truck and a portion of the tanker, but there will not be enough to get both.

Skibbe said officials are seeking bids for the cost of both for planning purposes. The tanker could be purchased later.

“We have had conversations as a township on what is the proper order of importance, and how we can garner ourselves and live within our means with what the taxpayers have granted us,” Skibbe said. “We are going to implement proper capital and strategic plans where things like the tanker can be. Our community gave us tremendous support to give us this millage, and it wouldn’t make us look good as a leadership board if we went back out and asked for a renewal. We have what we have and we’re looking at how we can strengthen and prioritize what purchases we need to make to ensure the safety and betterment of the residents.”

Trustees are also going to review the cost and profitability of using the ambulances to perform non-emergency transfers. The township does some transfers, many of which are between care facilities, and collects revenue for doing so.

Skibbe said about 75% of the transfers are done locally, but the volume of runs also takes its toll on employees and other work that needs to be done at the two stations.

“We want to make sure that the revenues and expenses make it worth it, while still making sure the staff is fresh and prepared to respond to emergencies,” Skibbe said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.