sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA TOWNSHIP Last year, the Alpena Township Board of Trustees began its fiscal year with a balanced budget, and it hopes to repeat that accomplishment this budget cycle.
Matching revenues to expenses may prove more difficult this year, however, as uncertainty on state revenue sharing could impact the township’s general fund.
Another financial hurdle may be the unknown cost of rebuilding the township’s fire department, which makes the public safety fund budget murky now. The department is woefully understaffed and the township has contracted the Alpena Fire Department to help fill in the gaps.
The township began this fiscal year with estimated general fund revenue of $1.7 million and expenses of $1.7 million. It started the fiscal year with $913,638 in its general fund savings account.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz
Alpena Fire Capt. Tim Slosser, left, and firefighter Dan Hibner wash a fire truck at Alpena Township s north side fire station on Tuesday. The city is providing staff to help the township through an employee shortage in its department.
ALPENA With only two full-time firefighters working for the Alpena Township south side fire station, township trustees this week wondered what would happen if one or both of them became ill or injured.
Fire Chief Dave Robbins said that, right now, there are no concrete plans to address that possibility and his belief is that the Alpena Fire Department or other neighboring townships would help if needed.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
Courtesy Photo
Firefighters from the Alpena Fire Department rescue a dog after it fell through the ice on the Thunder Bay River in this January 2021 News file photo.
ALPENA Firefighters do more than rescue people when they are in peril.
They also put themselves at risk to help protect animals that find themselves in dangerous situations.
That happened Friday.
A pair of huskies were playing on the ice on the Thunder Bay River off of Long Rapids Road when one of them fell through thin ice and into the frigid water.
Someone who saw the dog struggling to stay afloat called 911 and city emergency medical services crews responded from the Alpena Township north-side fire station, where they are temporarily providing staffing.
9 & 10 News
December 28, 2020
On Monday night, the Alpena community will meet to figure out how to handle the staffing crisis at their fire department.
After several resignations and retirements, the Charter Township of Alpena Fire Department will only have one full time firefighter and their fire chief.
There is a proposal to have the City of Alpena Fire Department help staff the fire station, but the township fire chief says that will only be a short term fix.
The Alpena City Council and Township Board are holding a joint meeting on Monday to decide on how to handle the staffing shortage.
9 & 10 News
December 28, 2020
Community leaders in Alpena approved a measure on Monday that will help the Charter Township of Alpena Fire Department get back on its feet.
The Alpena Board of Trustees voted to have the city’s fire department help at the township fire department.
After several resignations and retirements, the department will soon only have one full time firefighter and their fire chief.
They say properly training replacements takes months.
With the board’s approval, the city fire department will occupy and handle responsibility for the township’s north-side station for up to six months.
“I have to say I appreciate the city being so willing to work with us here. And from my point of view they are our best option in this situation this crisis,” said Russ Rhynard, Trustee.