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Chief flags two-hour coroner delay, plans grant application and confirms aid pact with Centreville
Summary
At the Jan. 6 Mendon Township Fire Board meeting, Chief Oatley said crews have faced slow coroner responses—once waiting about two and a half hours—announced plans to apply for a Gary Sinise grant, reported facility improvements and confirmed an automatic aid agreement with Centreville.
At the Mendon Township Fire Board meeting on Jan. 6, Chief Oatley told board members the department had a busy month and raised concerns about how coroner responses are coordinated, saying the crew "had to wait two and a half hours for one of our calls that were deceased." He said the coroner who comes from the WMU school of medicine sometimes does not notify the contractor Eickhoffs, which left the crew waiting on scene.
Chief Oatley said officer wages could be reviewed and reported recent facility work: "We have the door installed, the walls filled in. It's an amazing difference already." He said he plans to submit a Gary Sinise Foundation grant application this month and will write the request to fund a specific item or items for the department.
The chief also told the board that an automatic aid agreement is in place with Centreville and that he has prepared and distributed an annual report to the board. On personnel, Oatley described recent and upcoming training and urged the board to prioritize recruiting younger volunteers to strengthen department staffing going forward.
None of the operational items reported by Chief Oatley required a formal board vote at the meeting; routine financial items were handled separately and the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
