Advertisement

Supervisor Lonnie Hayes said Burnside Township has been considering a change from the Marlette Fire Department to the Brown City Fire Authority to cover 10 land sections on the township's north side for about a year.

Hayes said at Monday's meeting, board members voted to move the 10 sections presently covered by Marlette department, giving one section to the North Branch Fire Department and the other nine sections, located north of Peck Road and west of Gosline Road, to the Brown City department.

He said the Marlette department currently charges the township an annual stand-by fee of $14,300 for the 10 sections. The Brown City authority has told the township it can cover the nine sections for just $7,000 — half of the present cost.

He noted the Brown City Fire Authority already covers two sections on the township's east side, and Burnside Township is presently a member of the Brown City authority.

Hayes said Marlette fire officials attended Burnside Township's December meeting. The board was told that if Burnside Township canceled its fire pact, the Marlette department would cancel its mutual-aid agreement with Brown City and charge by the hour.

The township's contention with the present fire pact is that since Burnside is not a member of Marlette fire authority, it has no voice when it comes to administrative and budgeting issues.

"We have no vote," Hayes said. "If they build a new fire hall, it costs us more money, and we don't have a say."

The township gave its 60-day notice of termination in writing to the Marlette Fire Department by Friday as required in the fire contract. If Marlette loses its fire funds from Burnside, the department may have to charge its other municipalities more money for fire protection.

Hayes said the township board will consider further negotiation if Marlette will waive the 60-day notice.

"If they don't waive it, we're pulling out," he said. "If they waive it, we'll revisit it next month."

He made it clear that it was the township that approached the Brown City Fire Authority about the change due to cost concerns.

"We're talking about a $7,000 savings," Hayes added. "We approached Brown City because of the cost. If we were on the (Marlette fire) board, this could be addressed — if we had a vote."