L’ANSE — Baraga County first responders presented a proposal to the county board Monday night for use of $450,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

The chiefs of the eight departments and agencies met last week to decide on a proposal they all thought was fair, said Gary Wadaga, director of Bay Ambulance and a member of the Baraga Fire Department. After trying unsuccessfully to agree on items for a joint purchase, the chiefs settled on a way to divide the money.

The “big three” with the highest call volume — Baraga Fire Department, L’Anse Fire Department and Bay Ambulance — would each get $100,000, Wadaga said. The other six departments — Aura, Arvon Township, Covington Township, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Pelkie and Michigamme-Spurr — would receive $25,000 each.

“All of us have tried to submit grants, and as you’re probably very well-aware, grants are very highly competitive and grossly underfunded,” Wadaga said. “Although we try our best to find alternate ways of funding, that hasn’t always materialized.”

Board members suggested Wadaga compile written requests from each department and submit them to the county.

Commissioner Dan Robillard said the county will have a better idea how much money would be available at the end of the month, after bids come in for the new roof on the administration building.

“I would really like to see emergency services get as much funding as possible, but I don’t think we can make a decision on it tonight,” he said.