Ross Township approves EMS non-transport fee, accepts $8,500 grant and hires two part-time EMTs

Fire Chief Chris Jones told trustees the department responded to 131 calls last month and proposed measures to reduce repeated non-emergency dispatches and to replace worn turnout gear. Chief Jones said the department would not refuse responses but recommended a billing policy to discourage repeat non-transport calls that tie up units for extended periods.

Trustees approved a policy establishing a fee for non-transport EMS services (resolution 2026-043). Under the policy described at the meeting, beginning with the sixth non-transport incident within the same calendar year, the township would assess a $100 fee for each additional non-transport response; the department plans to handle billing through its vendor (soft billing rather than demanding immediate payment) and to limit enforcement to recovery efforts through the billing company.

The board also accepted an $8,500 fueling futures grant from Enbridge to buy turnout gear (three sets were estimated) and authorized the fire chief to execute grant terms and make necessary appropriations. Finally, trustees approved hiring two part-time firefighter-EMTs, Ethan Peters and Jonathan Roberts, at $18.50 per hour, consistent with the townshipstaffing and pay resolutions.

Trustee questions focused on whether billing would be "soft" (attempt to collect but not aggressive demands), how account management would work and whether the measure would create community friction; trustees who supported the measure said it was modeled on neighboring Morgan Township and had reduced frequent nontransport calls there.

What happens next: The chief will coordinate with the billing vendor to implement the fee schedule, and the administration will process grant paperwork and hire the two part-time EMTs.