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Residents urge faster ambulance response and road repairs; road commission seeks OK for bond plan
Summary
Residents reported hour-long ambulance delays and deteriorating road conditions; the Road Commission asked the board to schedule an Oct. 16 vote to authorize a municipal bond to finance a new maintenance facility while residents pressed for better EMS coverage and tree/road maintenance.
Several residents used the public-comment period at the Sept. 18 Clare County Board meeting to press the board on emergency medical response and road maintenance.
A resident said an ambulance took more than an hour to reach a bleeding family member, prompting multiple speakers to recount near-fatal delays and argue for local solutions including contracting options, mutual aid, or a station nearer the northern parts of the county. Commissioners and staff said the issue has been discussed: schedules and paramedic rotations were changed, and the county and agencies are monitoring response times. Staff offered to connect residents with the appropriate contacts to pursue specifics.
Jane Walters, a long-time resident, described chronic road erosion, dead trees leaning toward power lines, repeated near-collisions on County Road 18 and long-standing frustration that the far end of Harrison Township receives limited maintenance. She said prior fixes had been temporary and asked the county to do more to mitigate safety risks.
At the same time, Wayne Rogers of the Clare County Road Commission told the board the Road Commission is designing a replacement facility at the existing site and asked to be placed on the Oct. 16 agenda to request county approval to issue a municipal bond. Rogers said the road commission would carry financial responsibility for the bond under state law but must obtain board approval to proceed. He said the current facility is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life.
Commissioners thanked the public commentators and said they would follow up: staff suggested residents leave contact information and staff would put them in touch with appropriate officials; the board agreed to place the Road Commission’s municipal bond request on the Oct. 16 agenda for full presentation and technical Q&A by the Road Commission and its financial advisors.
