It’s official: Yankee Springs Township now has joined Wayland Area Emergency Services for ambulance service.
The final piece of the puzzle was assembled Wednesday night when the Martin Township Board voted 4-0 to bring Yankee Springs into the WAEMS service area. The organization’s rules stipulate that all current members must approve the move unanimously, and now all 10 municipalities have concurred.
WAEMS now serves, besides Yankee Springs, the Townships of Dorr, Hopkins, Wayland, Leighton, Martin, Monterey, Orangeville, Salem, Watson and the City of Wayland.
Thornapple Township Emergency Services (TTES) previously had provided ambulance and fire services to Thornapple, Yankee Springs and part of Irving Township in Barry County.
The WAEMS also has announced 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 noted 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.
Stuart Peet, who represents Martin on the WAEMS Board told Martin Township officials Wednesday evening that, “Bob Hess and the EMS Board really feel this is a good idea.”
He added that bringing Yankee Springs on board would expand the number of volunteers up from 125 to 175. Allegan County Commissioner Don Black said there were only 60 when he was Wayland Township Supervisor.
The move comes at the same time that Yankee Springs is making arrangements to be part of the Wayland Fire Department service area, which also serves the City of Wayland and Wayland Township. Deputy Fire Chief Dan Miller plans to be at the fire station on Payne Lake Road for about 20 hours a week and more volunteer firefighters are actively being sought.
Interestingly, Martin Township Fire Chief Earl Wykstra told the Township Board Wednesday night that Dan Miller and brother Joe, Wayland Fire Chief, have been looking at the old rescue truck Martin is giving up to make way for its new one that will arrive later this month.
Wykstra said the Spencer fire truck manufacturer has offered a trade-in value of $19,000, but he would like to see if he can make a deal with the Millers, perhaps with an eye toward having the old vehicle used at the Yankee Springs station.
