Alpena County committee backs 5% proposed ambulance fee increase and hears broad emergency services updates

The Alpena County Courts & Public Safety Committee on Dec. 15 received a proposed 5% increase to the 2026 ambulance fee schedule and heard operational updates for ambulance services, central dispatch and emergency management. The motion to receive and file the fee schedule was moved by Commissioner Bill LaHaie and supported by Commissioner Dan Ludlow; the motion carried.

Chief Andy Marceau of the Alpena Fire Department told the committee he will deliver quarterly ambulance updates beginning in January and that requests related to ambulance restocking fees, supplies and drug box reimbursement will be brought to the committee twice per year, in January and August. Marceau presented the 2026 Ambulance Fee Schedule and said Mobile Health Resources, the county’s billing provider, recommended a 5% increase to keep charges aligned with current allowable and approved reimbursement rates.

The fee-schedule item was handled by motion; the committee voted to receive and file the schedule rather than enact the fee change at the meeting. Commissioner LaHaie moved to receive and file the schedule; Commissioner Ludlow supported the motion and it carried.

Lead Central Dispatcher Rory Sherwood gave the monthly Central Dispatch update and reported several operational items: a nearly completed new-employee training expected to finish by mid-February, a CodeRed training session at the Senior Center that signed up just under 20 residents, and a pending quote from ProCom of Gaylord for radio-installation work that may save money compared with the county’s current contractor, TeleRad. The committee received and filed the dispatch update on a motion moved by Commissioner Ludlow and supported by Commissioner LaHaie.

Emergency Management Director Nic Modrzynski introduced himself as the new director and listed recent activity: receipt of 15 orange barricades from Region 7 available at the fairgrounds for traffic control, delivery of three breaching kits (one assigned to the Sheriff’s Office and one to the Alpena City Police), and an updated Thunder Bay Dams Emergency Action Plan that now lists Director Modrzynski. He said he has registered to pursue Certified Professional Emergency Manager (CPEM) credentials and will need to complete in‑person training next year. Modrzynski also said Montmorency County will be receiving $200,000 to distribute to other counties for food banks and that he will bring further information and any required approval back to the commissioners. A memo regarding use of the emergency management vehicle will be presented at a future meeting.

Each of these department updates was accepted by vote to "receive and file," and no budgetary appropriations or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. The committee did not take final action to set new ambulance fees at the Dec. 15 session; moving from "receive and file" to an enacted fee would require further action at a subsequent meeting.