sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz
Alpena Fire Department Captain Andy Marceau connects a firehose to a fire truck while at work Monday. The City of Alpena, and Alpena Township could begin talks about a service contract where the city would manage the township department. The township could also choose to rebuild its department.
ALPENA After voting in December not to pursue a long-term contract with Alpena Township to provide fire services, the Alpena Municipal Council voted 5-0 Monday, to open talks with township officials once more.
The city was hired in January to provide coverage for the township’s north station for $125,000 to buy the township some time to find a solution to a staffing shortage.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
The Alpena Township Board of Trustees voted 4-3 on Wednesday to reach out to the City of Alpena to gauge interest in discussing a possible contract for fire services.
Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said he will send the correspondence to Alpena Mayor Matt Waligora.
The possibility of the township maintaining and restructuring the township fire department on its own is still on the table too.
Trustees Cash Kroll and Steve Lappan, who are on the fire department ad hoc committee, voted against involving the city, as did Clerk Michele Palevich.
The board also voted to allow Fire Chief Dave Robbins to continue the hiring process for a job candidate who is attending college in Saginaw and expected to graduate in May. The hiring is pending the candidate filing required paperwork and passing background checks. The hire is also contingent on the man having a valid work visa, as he is from Canada.