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Robbins gives board proposal to keep firefighters in the township

A fire truck is set to pull out of the Alpena Township southside station in December. The fire department is beginning a full rebuild and will be hiring to fill out its staff.

ALPENA TOWNSHIP — The Alpena Township Board of Trustees will discuss a proposal from its fire chief that may prevent the township from merging its fire department with Alpena’s.

At its regular meeting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, trustees will review options laid out by Chief Dave Robbins and consider whether the moves are best for public safety or the township should continue to explore a consolidation with the city.

Several residents at a joint meeting of the township board and the Alpena Municipal Council earlier this month expressed confusion and outrage over the proposal, which township officials said could save the township significant money but critics said could slow emergency response times in the township.

The township’s general fund subsidized its fire department to the tune of about $350,000 last year, despite property taxes meant to fund firefighting.

Robbins, who presented his recommendations to the township board’s Personnel Committee earlier this week, suggested the township change from an emergency medical service unit to an emergency first responder department. An EMS response can offer more elaborate medical care on scene, while an EMF provides more basic care until backup arrives.

That change would allow only one person to respond to an emergency call, which may save money.

The department would discontinue all medical transfers, including facility-to-facility, but one firefighter would still man each of the township’s two fire stations for 24-hour shifts daily.

Robbins said in his report to the committee that new employees need to be hired soon because of retirements and others moving to new jobs, and the new employees’ salaries would be lower, another cost savings.

“They asked for options and what could the department look like under different circumstances,” Robbins said. “My bottom-line goal is to keep this department manned 24-7 and continue to provide quality service. I’m guarded but hopeful that we may be able to keep the department intact.”

Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said one of the primary concerns expressed to the trustees during the joint meeting with the city was the fact that Robbins wasn’t involved in the planning and bargaining for a potential merger. So the township had its fire chief come up with options that could reduce costs but still provide quality service for residents.

Skibbe said the township department faces funding shortages and employee shortfalls in the near future, so ideas to address those issues were critical.

After Skibbe announced the proposed merger and draft contract was already in place, Robbins said, he and his staff experienced a lot of emotions. Now, he said, cooler heads are beginning to prevail. Robbins said he is taking the word of the trustees and Skibbe that the proposed merger is just one possibility being explored.

“We were blindsided, upset and angry, but that’s OK, because we’re human,” Robbins said. “The township has said it is only one possible solution, and everything would be looked at.”

Skibbe said a lot of false information is being circulated on social media, and he implores residents to try to understand some type of action must be taken to ensure finances and public safety remains strong.

He said people wanted Robbins to be involved in the planning process, which is now being done, and all ideas and plans will be examined closely to make sure the township’s obligations to its residents and employees are met.

“All we will be doing at the meeting Tuesday is having discussions about the chief’s recommendations on how to operate with a staffing shortage while ensuring public safety is still strong,” Skibbe said. “We need to have these discussions, see what things could look like, but, right now, they are only discussions, and no decision has been made.”

The proposed merger with the city could leave the two township stations unmanned and accessed by paid on-call first responders who need to get emergency vehicles and other gear while enroute to an emergency call.

The city would hire three full-time employees from the township and the township’s paid on-call staff.

At its last meeting, the township board voiced some concerns over unmanned stations and possible longer response times, and trustees have shared those concerns with the city.

Skibbe said the township hadn’t received a response from the city as of Wednesday.

Alpena Township fire chief proposal by Justin Hinkley on Scribd

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that John Clements is a captain with the Alpena Township Fire Department. His name was misspelled in the photo caption in an earlier version of this story.

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