News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Rogers City Area Fire Department Authority Chief Michael Kroll stands between cramped fire trucks at the fire hall in Rogers City on May 8. Construction of a new station could begin this summer thanks to a property tax that supports the local fire authority. Five municipalities formed the authority and a millage in each supports the authority.

ALPENA — A fire authority allows communities to share resources to provide emergency services and react nimbly to areas that have little or no emergency response capabilities on their own, fire authority leaders around Michigan say.

One authority — essentially a new government entity created to manage a service in multiple communities — already exists in Northeast Michigan, in the Rogers City area.

And Northeast Michigan could see other partnerships.

Alpena and Alpena Township are discussing forming an authority to oversee water and sewer services in those two communities to put an end to a years-long court battle.

And those two communities briefly discussed forming a fire authority as the township explores a way to preserve firefighting services in the face of staffing shortages and financial issues.

Instead, the Alpena Township Board of Trustees is expected today to consider a straight 15-year contract with Alpena for firefighting services in the township.

Because authorities levy their own taxes to fund services throughout the communities they serve, an authority likely wouldn’t work for the Alpena area until the township’s two property taxes for its fire department expire in 2022 and 2027.

But, in other communities with fire authorities, the setup provides cost savings, builds relationships, and brings services to communities that might not afford them on their own.

“It is a clean approach, and everyone pays the same and gets the same service,” Robert Arbini, the fire chief for the Chelsea Area Fire Authority, said. “There is some juggling you have to do with personnel and equipment, but, overall, it is a clean way to do things.”

HOW A FIRE AUTHORITY WORKS

Forming an authority requires either a simple vote of the municipal boards that intend to join or a vote of residents during an election. A representative or representatives from each community served by the authority sits on the authority board, which manages the services and budget for those services.

That’s different from the contract Alpena Township will consider tonight, which forms no new board. Alpena Township would simply buy firefighting services from the city.

Arbini, the fire chief for the Chelsea Area Fire Authority, said four municipalities created that authority and, later, a fifth community joined.

He said the authority operates on a 2.4-mill property tax, equal to about $120 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house. Arbini said having a dedicated revenue stream takes politics out of the decision-making, especially during the budget-making process, when all municipal departments in a community seek money for projects and operations at the same time.

“You’re not competing with the police department, department of public works, and others for dollars,” Arbini said. “I would continue to do this all day, because the money coming is guaranteed for us, and there is no competition for it.”

Most municipalities with fire departments staff a chief, captains, and lieutenants to complement their staff of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, or medical first responders. Arbini said having one authority allows one chief to oversee operations and limited administrators, which saves smaller municipalities money, because they don’t have to hire their own.

AN AUTHORITY IN PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY

The Rogers City Area Fire Department Authority provides firefighting, fire prevention services, and medical first responder services for Rogers City and Belknap, Bismarck, Moltke and Rogers townships. A 1-mill property tax — about $50 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house — funds the authority, which also utilizes grants and charges for services. Property owners or their insurers pay at least a portion of the costs of having a fire extinguished.

Bismarck Township Supervisor John Kleiber said that, before the authority, the townships paid for any fire response from Rogers City’s department, so the authority helps the township’s budget.

“It has worked out well for us,” Kleiber said. “It simplifies a lot of things, and I believe it strengthens the relationships of the communities and allows us to work more closely on other things.”

Check out a video below of Rogers City Area Fire Authority Chief Michael Kroll talking about his department. Viewing on mobile? Turn your device horizontally for the best viewing experience. Story continues below video.

Another benefit: A portion of the authority tax funds will go toward the construction of a new and larger fire hall outside of downtown Rogers City, making it easier for emergency response vehicles to avoid traffic and pedestrians.

Cramped quarters at the current fire hall forces bumper-to-bumper parking of fire trucks in the garage. Authority Chief Michael Kroll said the vehicles need rearranging at times so the type of vehicle most likely needed can exit the garage quickly.

If the voters ever fail to extend the property tax, Kroll said, the townships would likely depend on the city and other mutual aid partners to put out fires and get a bill for it. He said the high-quality gear the authority has now would age longer before replaced.

“We would have to do a lot of fundraising and grant-seeking,” he said. “But we would find a way to continue service and be there if there is an emergency.”

PITFALLS

Getting the public buy-in for an authority is a challenge, and distribution of personnel and equipment can be a chore, too, Arbini said.

When governments form an authority, one or more municipalities have to relinquish the operations of their own department. Trying to get people in rural areas to understand why they don’t have the same resources in their communities as more highly populated areas can also slow support for an authority, he said.

“Everyone thinks that, because they pay the same, they should have the same amount of trucks and firefighters,” he said. “They need to understand the run volume is higher in more populated areas, like a city, and know that someone will come for them when they call 911.”

Arbini said some communities who do relinquish control and equipment also believe they should receive more, because they invested more upfront.

“It can cause some bitterness,” he said.