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Committee backs conceptual lease for Mobile Medical Response to build EMS station on county land
Summary
Manistee County's Ways & Means Committee voted to recommend supporting a conceptual ground lease with Mobile Medical Response (MMR) for construction of an EMS station on county property; the motion was unanimous and could lead to an ambulance services agreement if MMR approves the lease.
Manistee County's Ways & Means Committee on Feb. 4 voted to recommend supporting a conceptual ground lease with Mobile Medical Response (MMR) that would allow MMR to build an EMS station on county-owned property near the Sheriff’s Department.
Administrator/Controller Lisa Sagala summarized prior discussions: the county owns land adjacent to the Sheriff’s facility, MMR is seeking a larger space after outgrowing its existing building, and the Sheriff’s Office needs storage for equipment including an air boat. County staff and MMR drafted a project charter and a conceptual lease to allow a coordinated development. The charter sets a target budget, initial milestones and governance roles, and lists a proposed total budget of $750,000 in planning documents.
The draft ground lease and a proposed ambulance service agreement were included in meeting appendices. The ground lease provides for a long-term lease of county land, easements for access and utilities, and options for construction and signage; the appended ambulance service agreement sets terms under Michigan law (the draft references 1990 PA 179 for county ambulance contracting authority).
Chairperson Jeffrey Dontz moved and Richard Schmidt seconded a motion recommending committee support for the conceptual lease agreement with MMR to build a facility on county-owned property. The motion carried with all members present voting yes. Sagala said that if MMR approves the draft lease, the next step would be to finalize an ambulance services agreement — a common arrangement the proposal notes MMR has used with other counties.
Materials provided to the committee included a project charter listing milestones (design/permitting in Jan–Feb 2026; proposed groundbreaking May 2026; commissioning Aug. 2026) and a draft ground lease describing tenant obligations, term (99 years), rent adjustment language and termination clauses. Committee members did not record additional conditions or requested amendments in the minutes; the committee recommended forwarding the conceptual support to the full Board of Commissioners for further consideration.
