Cedar Area Fire & Rescue (CAFR) has been approached by another township seeking to join the organization.
Elmwood Township Supervisor Jeff Shaw attended the board’s regular meeting Dec. 5 to share his board’s interest in possibly becoming part of the four-township organization.
The issue was first raised during the Elmwood Township Board’s October meeting. However, CAFR board members were surprised when they read this information in the Enterprise.
CAFR was formed in 2016. It includes Centerville, Cleveland, Solon and Kasson townships.
These four townships are roughly equal in population and assessed value and make similar amounts of emergency calls.
On the other hand, Elmwood Township has the largest population in the county, and it also has roughly three times the taxable value of any one township under the CAFR umbrella, according to the county’s recent apportionment report.
This suggests that Elmwood may call upon CAFR’s shared resources more than the other townships and should pay a greater share of the costs. Exactly how much more still needs to be determined.
According to CAFR draft minutes from the meeting minutes, Elmwood Township run approximately 500 to 600 calls per year, from one station, covering the township. They have nine fulltime unionized employees plus a fulltime chief, and run Basic Life Support service with Advanced Life Support covered by Mobile Medical Response of Traverse City.
No action was taken on the proposal.
However, Greg Julian, CAFR chair and Kasson Township supervisor, stated that the fire chief and other interested individuals will be looking into this, and the representatives can report on this item at their township board meetings.
Conversation at the board level then went to a proposal to establish a second fire station for the department on the west side of its coverage area.
A committee is studying possible construction of a second station near the Co. Rd. 616 corridor between Maple City and Glen Lake School.
Julian said the committees will provide a report at CAFR’s January meeting.
