The Wayland City Council Monday night gave its blessing to a fire service agreement to cover Yankee Springs Township.

The proposal later this month will go before the Yankee Springs Township Board.

City Manager Mike Selden, who wrote the proposal for agreement, saying it, “breaks down what we talked about… it’s a simple solution to a complex problem.”

Selden, in a letter to the board and to the council, said, “After such time as both parties agree in principle to the terms of the proposal, it will then be sent along to the City of Wayland legal counsel to be placed in adoptable agreement form.”

City Fire Chief Joe Miller outlined equipment and estimated costs at $207,380 for Yankee Springs for use from the Yankee Springs Fire Station. These would be required to outfit the firefighters responding from the Yankee Springs Fire Station. All property purchased would remain property of Yankee Springs Township.

The city would have Deputy Fire Chief Dan Miller stationed at the Yankee Springs Township Station, who would work on a salary based on 20 hours per week in the station, with cost billed directly to Yankee Springs Township.

The city will bill Yankee Springs Township quarterly, based on actual costs of employment to the city for that quarter for paid on-call firefighters, along with an administration charge of $1,250 per quarter (or $5,000 per year) for expenses relating to billing, payroll and overall administration of the agreement.

All expenses other than payroll, including but not limited to equipment, supplies, and maintenance will be purchased and billed directly by/to Yankee Springs Township. Deputy Chief Miller would need to be allowed purchasing power for Yankee Springs with a limit set prior to board approval, to allow Yankee Springs Township to be billed directly for these costs.

All legal expenses associated with the drafting and approval of this agreement will be paid for by Yankee Springs Township upon approval of the agreement.

The Wayland City Fire Department already is responsible for coverage of the city and Wayland Township. Yankee Springs originally approached the city about extending its fire protection services and negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year.

Yankee Springs has been covered under an agreement with Thornapple Township Emergency Services.

PHOTOS: Wayland Fire Chief Joe Miller   Deputy Fire Chief Dan Miller