Voters in Leland Township will soon head to the polls and weigh in on two proposals that are critical to fire and medical services in the township.

The Aug. 5 election has two millages tied to Leland Township Fire & Rescue. One is a renewal and slight increase of the department’s operating millage; the other is a renewal of the department’s equipment and training millage. Many more details about both can be found here.

Among other items, these millages would support pay raises and advanced training for department personnel, something the township considers critical to maintaining a quality, dependable workforce in an increasingly competitive environment.

“This millage is incredibly important to keep the talent we already have here, as well as having a plan (to attract) future talent…as we start to increase our staffing and improve our operational models,” department Chief Dan Besson tells The Ticker.

In terms of impacts to township residents, perhaps one of the biggest will be a push to get the department’s emergency medical technicians (EMTs) trained and certified as paramedics. This could quite literally be the difference between life and death, and still provides a ton of benefits outside of life-threatening situations.

“They are the highest ranked medical provider for pre-hospital care,” Besson says. “So when our transport times average about 30 to 35 minutes, that’s key.”

Township Supervisor Clint Mitchell echoes those sentiments.  

“What I tell residents is if you’re having a heart attack, a paramedic can treat you immediately. An EMT can keep you comfortable on the way to the hospital,” he says. “In a township where the average age is over 60, that’s important to people.”

The millages would also support a staffing increase from three shifts of three to three shifts of four. This will allow the department to better handle overlapping calls, which are occurring more frequently as the area gets busier every year.

“Calls overlap each other when we have multiple calls coming in while we are on another call. That could be during a storm, while on an extended scene, when two medical calls come, and/or our ambulance may be returning from the hospital in Traverse City after a transport,” Besson said in a written message about the millages. “When these overlapping calls occur, we may have insufficient staffing left in town to handle them both, so we are forced to call our neighbors in to cover us.”

The operational millage in particular will provide an already approved pay boost (via a contract) to department employees. While it depends on position and other factors, Mitchell says it amounts to a roughly 10 percent boost out of the gates and a percentage cost of living increase over three years. Like Besson, he says it’s another way to make sure staffing is maintained.

“Hopefully what this contract does is not just get people in the door, but keeps them here once they’re here,” he says.

The department is also looking to ease the financial burden on township residents who use ambulance services, if ever so slightly. They’ll still bill insurance for township residents, but waive anything that’s not covered.

“What we're looking to do is follow suit with some of our neighbors and not bill out-of-pocket costs to township residents,” Besson says. “We don't get a lot of complaints here in Leland township, but that is one thing we get. ‘Hey, my taxes go toward the ambulance. Why am I getting a bill for services that the ambulance provided?’”

There are, of course, plenty of of equipment and additional training elements supported by the millages. Details can be found here.