Prospects are looking good to Yankee Springs Township’s request to join the area served by Wayland Area Emergency Services.
Leighton Township Supervisor Steve Deer told his colleague Thursday night that a straw poll of the Ambulance Board was taken Wednesday night and all 10 municipalities expressed support.
Cathy Pardee, who represents Watson Township on the WAEMS Board, said if all 10 municipalities agree to let Yankee Springs join, it will bring the number of government units served to 11. However, formal action is not expected until January.
WAEMS now serves the Townships of Dorr, Hopkins, Wayland, Leighton, Martin, Monterey, Orangeville, Salem, Watson and the City of Wayland.
Thornapple Township Emergency Services (TTES) has provides ambulance and fire services to Thornapple, Yankee Springs and part of Irving Township in Barry County.
In a related development, it was reported Thursday night that the Gun lake Tribe of Potowatomis has asked the ambulance service to cover nine homes located across the street from the Gun Lake Casino in Wayland Township with a price tag of $4,000.
WAEMS Manager Bob Hess, in a letter to Ambulance Board members, said, “The Fire Board members expressed a desire to have the fire and ambulance services separated and to develop a local response team. Yankee Springs does have a fire station located just past the Barry County line on Chief Noonday, (129th Avenue). They do have some fire vehicles and a small volunteer fire/EMS staff.”
Hess pointed out that Yankee Springs borders with Wayland Township to the east and sits just north of Orangeville Township.
“They are similar to townships in our service area having no large industry, no health care facilities (nursing homes of hospitals) with most of the township zoned agriculture and residential,” he added. “They do not have a population center (like a village or city), however most of the population is located on the west side of the township.”
Hess noted customary number of runs in Yankee Springs is about 10 to 12 calls a month.