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Lapeer County EMS leaders planned a Tuesday meeting to decide the fate of continued ambulance service to Marathon Township. Lapeer County EMS is asking the township to become paying members or risk losing coverage.

But at its own Tuesday meeting, Marathon Township officials are expected to accept the services of Patriot Ambulance Service of Burton and Davison.

The issue is one of fairness, said Lapeer County EMS Board President Kevin Daley previously.

"There are 15 members paying to keep the service up and running, and one that is getting it for free," Daley said. "We're not forcing them to use us. We just expect them to pay their fair share if they do."

Marathon has been serviced exclusively by Lapeer County EMS after their longtime provider Aden Hudson, of Otisville, retired. Deerfield Ambulance purchased the business but lost its license about two years ago. The Lapeer County EMS board asked the township to pay a $161,000 membership fee and $3 per person each year. They were required to pay $4 per capita to retain the service until December.

Lapeer County EMS gave the township a deadline to announce their intentions and planned the Tuesday meeting after not receiving a response.

"We gave them until March 11," said Lapeer County EMS Vice-Chairman Eldon Card. "We'll either work with them on a contract or take some kind of action, or we may be going to the state to take their name off the license, so we won't be obligated to service them."

But across town at another Tuesday gathering, Marathon Township officials anticipated accepting the officer of Patriot, a private company, who will not charge the municipality for their services. The final decision was not known by press time Tuesday.

"In these tough times, I have little choice," said Marathon Township supervisor Dale Fuller. "I would have had to ask for a special assessment, and our residents indicated it would place a big hardship on them. Patriot stepped up and offered it at no cost. The vote hasn't been taken yet though."

Patriot, who is been in business for four years, is licensed for both Genesee County and Lapeer County, said Director of Operations Jim Grady.

"There is no border line between Lapeer and Genesee. We service both," Grady said. "And we don't charge municipalities. We finance our operation by billing the customer or their insurance agency."

Lapeer County EMS Executive Director Galland Burnham said he had no comment until he talked to the township.

"I've heard all kinds of things," said Burnham. "I have no idea what they're doing. We gave them a deadline and offered to explain things at their special meeting. They didn't take us up on that."

Lapeer County EMS was formed in 1997 by the joining of ambulance services in North Branch, Imlay City and Lapeer. Each Lapeer County EMS members paid a buy-in fee based on their population. Because of decreased insurance reimbursement, municipalities began paying $6 per capita about three years ago. That fee has dropped to $3 as the agency became financially sound.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com