(Port Sanilac) – The formation of a fire authority took another step forward Tuesday night when an Adhoc Committee came to a funding formula agreement to take back to their perspective boards for formal action. Representatives from the Village of Port Sanilac and the townships of Forester and Sanilac met for two hours before reaching an agreement. The committee considered several options, including funding based on SEV values which would have left Port Sanilac paying just 11% of the budget.
However, the group finally agreed on Forester Township paying 30%, Sanilac Township would pay 42.5% and Port Sanilac would pay 27.5%. With the proposed formula, Forester would pay approximately $31,000, Sanilac would pay roughly $48,000 and Port Sanilac would pay the remaining $26,000 with consideration being given to the village for having a fire hall and the trucks. An informal public information meeting will be held January 17th at 8 p.m. at Bark Shanty to explain the committee’s plan.
Don Morath, who has been spearheading the drive to make the fire authority happen, presented several options to the committee. At issue has been the equality of funding amongst municipalities. Aside from the SEV plan, another option the committee considered was an even 33% split between the three groups. But, Port Sanilac representatives were not in favor of that, despite the face they would be saving 16% of their current costs of the village’s fire department budget. Boards from Forester and Sanilac Townships, and Port Sanilac have all formally agreed to move forward towards the formation of the fire authority.
The Adhoc Committee agreed on the need to have long term goals related to costs to operate the fire authority and to present the information to their constituents for feedback. They also agreed the discussions were a positive move between all involved parties, something that hasn’t happened in 25 years. Port Sanilac President Ray Mach said, “the last time we had this wide ranging of a discussion was on the water project and we all know, that didn’t go well. This is encouraging. I believe if we have like minded people, working towards a common goal, we can work this out.”
Along with Mach, other representatives on the committee are Port Sanilac Business manager Larry O’Keefe and Jennifer Briski, Forester representatives Margo O’Mara and Pat Stevenson and Sanilac Township representatives Jeff Lydall and Renzie Milarch. Others involved with the process include Morath, his wife Sarah who is the group’s secretary and Port Sanilac Fire Chief Brian Moran.
