Three communities are considering forming a Fire Authority
Port Sanilac – Creation of the new Sanilac East Fire Authority continues to inch closer to reality with final details being worked out over the next few weeks.
Port Sanilac Village President Ray Mach said the Adhoc Committee met with representatives from each of the three entities last week and governing boards will be voting on the issue sometime next month.
Finishing touches are being put on Articles of Incorporation and Mach said once those are approved, a Fire Authority board would be selected and the Authority could become function in early August.
“The Adhoc Committee (representatives from each entity) has done a tremendous amount of work in the past two years,” said Mach. “We wanted the governmental bodies involved involved with the committee face to face and that meeting happened last week. We are moving forward. This is a tremendous step of trust for everyone. We are just making sure all of the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed.”
According to Mach, while a first year budget has been settled on, the committee has projected a five-year plan for the three entities to project the amount of money they will need. A possible fire millage may be needed by some to help fund their share of the fire authority.
Mach said if everything continues to move forward positively, he anticipates the fire authority to begin operations in August. A public hearing on the issue will be held sometime in July.
The projected budget for the first year of the fire authority, involving Forester Township, Port Sanilac and the Village of Port Sanilac, is $105,000.
