Dan Everson, trustee, Marquette Township

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Township Board on Tuesday signed off on two measures geared toward improving the efficiency and safety of its fire department.

In a unanimous vote, board members authorized Supervisor Lyn Durant to sign an agreement with the city of Marquette for service and maintenance of township fire apparatus.

Under the agreement, the city will be considered an independent contractor responsible for “employing or engaging all persons necessary to perform the repair services.”

Township Manager Randy Girard said he and township Fire Chief Dan Shanahan determined that the agreement for service at the city’s new Municipal Service Center along Wright Street could save the department as much as 20% in expenses.

Girard said the city employs mechanics certified to work on the type of apparatus the township owns, eliminating the need to contract with firms that have to come from a distance away to work on the equipment.

“We get charged for all that travel, and for the time that they’re here. They have to come and see what it (the problem) is and then order parts,” Girard said. “We are projecting that we could experience a 10 to 20% reduction in cost just by removing the travel time and the down time for accommodations if they have to be overnight.”

Trustee Dan Everson, who made the motion, said the agreement is a “win-win” for the township.

“The city, their mechanics are top notch,” Everson said.

Either party has the right to terminate the pact for any reason with 10 days’ written notice, the agreement states.

The board also approved an $18,000 expenditure for 28 new pairs of boots and 30 helmets for members of the fire department in a separate vote Tuesday.

The helmets, Shanahan said, are nearly two decades old and are heavy and sometimes have an improper fit.

“That’s (an) 18-year-old helmet, so the fit, it’s not balanced properly. They weigh 3.5 to 4 pounds,” Shanahan said.

The purchase will be funded by a $27,000 distribution of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community 2% gaming revenue funds. Girard said although KBIC officials did not place any restrictions on how the money should be spent, the funds came as a direct result of conversations with Shanahan regarding aging firefighting gear.

“We have looked at the boots and the helmets for several budget cycles, and have always had something more pressing to replace. But we are getting to the point where we need to address some of that equipment,” Girard said. “I think we are one of, if not the only department in the county that has the rubber boots in the county. They have all shifted over to the lighter leather composite ones.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.