Mich. city's EMS goes private as 17 firefighters lose their jobs
Budget cuts forced shift away from fire-based EMS, says mayor in Taylor
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By Candice Williams
The Detroit News
TAYLOR, Mich. — Beginning today, when residents call 911 for a medical emergency in Taylor, a private nonprofit company will respond instead of the city's fire department.
The change comes as 17 Taylor firefighters lose their jobs as the city turns over its emergency medical services to Healthlink Emergency Medical Transportation. It will save the city about $2 million a year as it experiences declining revenue, said Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand.
"This is a stopgap measure to stop the bleeding," he said. "We're certainly desirous to try to negotiate something that could put more people back to work."
The city notified the state that Taylor-based Healthlink will serve as the city's first responder, Lamarand said. Calls that come into dispatch for medical emergencies will be patched into the nonprofit. There will be two ambulance units assigned to the city.
The layoffs reduce the fire department to 24 firefighters, Lamarand said. The department will continue to respond to fires and emergencies that require their services, such as traffic accidents that need equipment for extraction. Six firefighters will be on duty each shift, Lamarand said.
"It may mean that we don't go into a fire and attack it from the outside," he said adding that the city also could call other communities for mutual aid.
"If we get multiple calls (then) that becomes where we get strained," he said. "Those are going to be the difficult things to work through."
Stan Pochron, president of the Taylor firefighters union, could not be reached for comment.
Healthlink, a partner with Oakland Healthcare System, also provides primary emergency medical services to Romulus, Lincoln Park, River Rouge and Ecorse, said Diane Witkowski, vice president of operations for Healthlink.
"Taylor is among many communities that are facing a lot of financial challenges," she said. "We're in the EMS business to service the citizens in any community."
Resident Noreen Jacobs said she feels bad for the laid-off firefighters.
"Those poor guys," she said. "I don't think (Lamarand) should be laying off all these qualified men."
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