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Commissioners flag EMS coverage gaps, ambulance purchases and mental-health staffing concerns
Summary
Multiple Barry County commissioners reported recent township concerns about EMS coverage and ambulance availability, noting a used-ambulance purchase and 302 Fire/EMS calls in June; the committee discussed mental-health services and recommended an appointment to the county mental-health authority.
Commissioners at the July 15 Committee of the Whole meeting raised public-safety concerns about emergency medical services coverage across townships and noted county-level steps that bear on response capacity.
Commissioner Marsha Bassett reported that Yankee Springs Township passed a resolution supporting removal of the Hall Lake Dam. Commissioner Mike Callton said the BIRCH Fire Department purchased a used ambulance. Commissioner Catherine Getty said ambulance coverage in Thornapple Township has increased over the past three years, and Commissioner Jon Smelker told the committee that Fire and Ambulance services responded to 302 calls in June. Commissioner Bruce Campbell and Chair David Jackson described conversations and township meetings highlighting ongoing EMS challenges. These items were delivered as commissioner reports; the minutes record no committee motion or vote specifically directing new EMS policy or funding.
Separately, Chair David Jackson said he met with Rich Thiemkey of Barry County Mental Health and reported a discussion about the future of mental-health services and "possible privatization of services offered." That discussion was recorded as part of commissioner comments; the committee made no recommendation or formal direction on mental-health privatization during this meeting.
The meeting did include a personnel recommendation related to mental-health governance: after interviewing Jerry Wilson earlier in the session, the committee recommended his appointment to the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority Board for a three-year term (April 1, 2025–March 31, 2028). That appointment was recorded as a committee recommendation and will be forwarded to the full Board of Commissioners for final action.
No formal motions addressing EMS funding or policy changes were recorded in the minutes; commissioners’ remarks were informational and advisory. The minutes do not list next steps for addressing EMS capacity or whether an agenda item will be scheduled for action.
