Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette From left, Kristin Kahler, Buddy Sweeney, Peter Magaraggia, Shelley Soli and Sarah Solberg hear details of the Bay Ambulance deal at Wednesday's meeting of the L'Anse Township Board of Supervisors.

L’ANSE TOWNSHIP –The L’Anse Township Board approved a contract with Bay Ambulance at its monthly meeting Wednesday. The Board and Bay Ambulance were at an impasse at a packed meeting last month with Bay Ambulance claiming the 1.5 mills township voters approved in the August election was not sufficient to meet the ambulance’s needs.

Meetings were held between Baraga County communities and the ambulance before the August election where the ambulance explained two mills was needed, though Supervisor Peter Magaraggia said those meetings were not voting bodies and agreements with Bay Ambulance were between each township or village. The board put 1.5 mills on the ballot instead of two requested by Bay Ambulance because of what was believed to be fair. The board then made an offer of making up the difference over six years instead of four to maintain 1.5 mills, but this was not accepted by Bay.

Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, an agreement had been reached. The contract approved Wednesday will provide payments from June to January, totaling $216,611. The rate aligns with the roughly $61 per resident price that Magaraggia and other citizens objected had to. Magaraggia’s reasoning came down to the larger population of L’Anse Township and lower property value compared to communities in Baraga County.

“We do not collect millages based on how many people live in your township, we collect millages based on property value,” Magaraggia said. “And for one township to pay over two times more than the other, I do not feel that’s representing our people fairly doing that.”

Magaraggia added he has nothing against Bay Ambulance, but believes the terms are not fair. He was the only member of the board to vote “nay” on the new contract. Residents in attendance spoke up during the public comment portion of the meeting to request further details about the situation and the increase in cost, with and Phyllis Frendendall sharing she was happy an agreement was met.

“I just want to say I’m grateful that the contract was signed and that we are assured that we have an ambulance service in our county,” Frendendall said.