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Ambulance service
Published 4:50pm Monday, October 31, 2011To the editor:
There has been much turmoil lately surrounding the community of Sister Lakes and its ambulance service. So much so, that after a recent public hearing on this subject, Silver Creek resident Gene “Ed” Miller commented to me that I was fighting a losing battle.
To set the record straight to Mr. Miller and the rest of his followers, nothing could be further from the truth. We simply want the residents and tax payers to make a decision based on facts and not rumors, lies and slick sales pitches that seem to be running rampant in the community.
First off, Mr. Miller is telling everyone that this is a huge tax increase that will further burden an already over taxed group of property owners in Silver Creek Township.
Fact is, this proposed assessment will likely end up being a reinstatement of a millage that was formerly in place.
Prior to 2010, the township had a 1.5 mill fire and ambulance millage that was township wide. This millage was replaced by a one-mill police and fire millage, thus everyone in the township saw a half-mill decrease in their property taxes. Chances are that once the numbers are available, a half-mill assessment for the northern half of the township will generate the revenue needed
to fund a dedicated Advance Life Support ambulance for this portion of the township. In a survey taken back in March of this year, nearly 60 percent of those responding indicated that they would rather pay an extra millage and keep the Sister Lakes service rather than rely on the “free” service. Could it be that Mr. Miller has a hidden agenda? Will this new service be leasing property from Mr.
Miller once he has convinced everyone to vote no?
It should also be noted that the township did not have to put this issue up for a vote; the township board has the authority to create special assessment districts by merely holding a public hearing (as they normally due for things like weed control in the various lakes).
I am sure this avenue would have been taken if it weren’t for certain members of the board having a strong desire to eliminate all funding for ambulance service so that they can bring in the “free” service that is already serving the southern half
of their township.
Residents should know that well over 30 times in the past few years, this “free” service has had to call our department to handle calls that they were unable to respond to due to lack of staffing.
Goes back to something my Dad always told me, “You get what you pay for,” and that certainly seems to be the case here for the township and community. However, if you or your loved one actually use this “free” service, you will be charged nearly double the rate over what we currently charge.
As for the “battle” in Mr. Miller’s comment, there is no battle. The only “battle” this department ever fought was back in the very early 1950s. You see, back when this area began to develop and rural fire departments started to evolve, the “Sister Lakes” fire station was a “branch” of the Keeler Fire Department. It was back then that a group of community minded men grew tired of “battling” the Keeler fire department for decent equipment. Seems that the Sister Lakes “branch” always got worn out junk, while the Keeler station received all of the good equipment. So back in 1953, this dedicated group of men gave back the crappy equipment to Keeler and formed what is now the Sister Lakes Volunteer Fire Department.
Since our inception in 1953, we have had but one goal and that is to serve the community of Sister Lakes. This mission was carried out by volunteers (no pay whatsoever) until the late ’90s when we had to start compensating EMTs who responded to calls for medical assistance. With the exception of the on-duty paramedic and EMT, this is still the case today as it was 58 years ago, community minded volunteers who are willing to do whatever is necessary to help their neighbors and friends . . . with no expectation of monetary compensation.
No battles will be fought. If the community feels that they would be better served with a part time shared service then so be it, but please keep this thought in mind. We serve the community due to a strong desire to help our fellow man and to make our community a better place. The “free” service is only here to make a profit.
Tom Gear, President
Sister Lakes Volunteer Fire Department
