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Benzie County ratifies tentative agreements for emergency dispatchers and paramedics; approves EMS education and EMPG grant
Summary
After a closed session on collective bargaining, the board ratified tentative agreements with Emergency Communications Specialists and Paramedics & EMTs, approved a clinical affiliation for paramedic training with West Shore Community College, and accepted the FY2025 EMPG work agreement with Michigan State Police Emergency Management.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 24 to ratify tentative successor collective bargaining agreements reached with the Emergency Communications Specialists bargaining unit and the Paramedics & Emergency Medical Technicians bargaining unit.
The board met in closed session under MCL 15.268(c) to discuss the negotiations and then returned to open session to ratify the tentative agreements; the roll-call vote to ratify was unanimous with Commissioner Warsecke excused. The board authorized the chair to sign the successor agreements upon approval as to form by the county attorney.
Separately, Commissioners approved a Clinical Affiliation Agreement with West Shore Community College to provide clinical placements for the county’s Emergency Medical Services program, subject to review by legal counsel. The board also approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Work Agreement with the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division and authorized signatures by the Chair and the Emergency Management Coordinator; Rebecca Hubers was present to answer questions on the EMPG agreement.
Why it matters: the ratified agreements cover personnel who deliver emergency dispatch and ambulance services countywide. The clinical affiliation supports EMS workforce training, and the EMPG grant supplies federal/state-managed emergency management funding that helps with planning and preparedness.
What’s next: The county attorney will review the labor agreements as to form and the Chair will sign the successor agreements; EMS clinical placements and EMPG-funded activities will proceed under the approved agreements.
