Recently, the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department made headlines when its board voted to implement a new policy aimed at charging neighboring fire departments for assistance beyond their township borders. This move comes after Metro responded to mutual aid requests 25 times last year, while only receiving help from others five times. According to Metro Fire Chief Pat Parker, this imbalance has prompted the department to seek compensation for their efforts.
In a significant shift, Metro will now charge between $1,000 and $5,000 per two-hour interval for responding to fires outside the member townships of Acme, East Bay, and Garfield. A second-alarm incident will cost $1,000 for the first two hours, escalating to $5,000 for a third-alarm situation and $2,500 for a fourth-alarm emergency. After the initial two hours, the rate jumps to $2,500 per hour. Additionally, the board is considering adjusting the county's box-response system to limit Metro's involvement in first-alarm incidents, which are often preliminary investigations rather than active fires.
"Mutual aid is about reciprocity," Parker explained. "If we provide assistance, we expect it in return. But clearly, that hasn't been happening." He emphasized that Metro's readiness—staffing stations around the clock—is something neighboring townships may want to consider investing in themselves. "It seems unfair to give away that level of preparedness without charging," he added.
The proposed changes were narrowly approved by a 3-2 vote on December 22nd. East Bay Township Trustee Beth Friend, who chairs the fire board, acknowledged that while everyone agreed on the principle of charging, there were lingering concerns about the specifics. She noted that Blair Township already charges for mutual aid and maintains positive relationships with surrounding jurisdictions. "We expect other departments to follow suit," she stated confidently.
While this decision primarily affects Grand Traverse Rural Fire, which received 12 mutual aid calls last year, it could also impact other areas like Traverse City, which saw fewer requests. However, some believe this move aligns with broader trends across the county. As Parker put it, "You're going to start seeing changes throughout the area."
Despite these changes, Parker remains optimistic about maintaining collaborative relationships. "We’re not trying to create animosity," he said. "We just want to ensure our efforts are valued appropriately." It remains to be seen how neighboring departments will respond, but one thing is clear: the landscape of mutual aid in Grand Traverse County is evolving rapidly.
Life-size animated pumpkin man statue
With a height of 7 feet, this half-human half-pumpkin is sure to add just the right sense of Halloween fear in your yard or haunted house. This terrible character has a sense of independence and vitality. The interior of his oversized pumpkin head is equipped with a red LED light and is powered by a battery.
We are manufacturer of Halloween Inflatable White Ghost in China, if you want to buy Blow Up White Ghost,Inflatable Ghost, please contact us.
Halloween Inflatable White Ghost,Blow Up White Ghost,Inflatable Ghost
Zhoushan Fule Christmas Decorations Co., Ltd. , https://www.fuleinflatable.com