Ambulance runs doubled in Portage Township for the month of June, compared to June 2006, reported Brad Kohvakka, captain of the local emergency medical service (EMS), at the Tuesday, July 10, board of trustees meeting. Having completed 19 runs in one month, the department has been busy, he said.

Mr. Kohvakka added that emergency medical technician Bobbie Willett, who has been taking residents' blood pressure readings twice per month at State Savings Bank, saw more clients in June than in recent months.

Mr. Kohvakka has completed a class certifying him to train ambulance drivers. To teach classes, he has drawn $500 from the ambulance fund for traffic cones and $2,800 for a laptop computer and projector. The projector can be used for other township purposes, he noted.

EMS hopes Mr. Kohvakka's certification will attract new recruits. Prior to his certification, potential drivers had to travel long distances to attend training sessions, and Portage has had difficulty convincing certified trainers to come to the area.

Ambulance drivers must be recertified every two years. Mr. Kohvakka's training allows him to do so, and he can certify new driv- ers. His classes could also be offered to members of other area departments, said Township Clerk Marcia McDonald.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has turned down the township's request to fund $3,000 to $5,000 in firefighting equipment. The tribe encouraged the township to reapply in the fall, Mrs. McDonald reported.

The board authorized Township Supervisor Donald Ferris to sign a revised mutual aid agreement with the Department of Natural Resources, which enables the fire department to save money by buying equipment through the federal General Services Administration. The agreement also allows the department to receive titles in its own name for equipment bought under the Department of Defense Firefighter Program.

Bids requested by the park committee for new fencing at softball fields within Curtis Recreation Area came in at more than $49,000, which is "out of our price range," Mrs. McDonald reported. To stay within the municipal budget, the board decided to have area resident Jeff Burton repair the existing fences.

"We will have to continue patching them as best we can," Mr. Ferris said.

Repairs were made prior to tournaments sponsored by Curtis Swampers softball league during the weekend of July 21.

One hundred two thousand dollars worth of repairs to 0.7 miles of McConnel Road are nearly complete. The Mackinac County Road Commission has put in two new culverts, removed brush, completed ditch work, and has resurfaced most of the gravel road.

McConnel has been greatly improved, Mrs. McDonald said.

"They have raised the road considerably," she added, noting that the improvements will help make the road accessible. During the spring break up, it has been too muddy to accommodate school buses, postal vehicles, and residential traffic.

Work at Sandtown Road is complete, Mr. Ferris said.

The board voted to request the Road Commission to remove seasonal designation from a portion of Camp A Road, which runs three quarters of a mile from North Gould City Road. The decision allows the Road Commission to take over plowing, which had been done by area resident John Townley. Mr. Townley offered to create a turn around at the end of the road, and he will work with the commission on road conditioning.

Several improvements have been made at area parks, including replacement of a basketball hoop and picnic tables.

The board reported that it would have to contact the Department of Environmental Quality, if it were to build a swimming area on South Manistique Lake. The request for a swimming area at Watts Stamper Park was made by area residents. Mrs. McDonald said the township does not have sufficient staff to manage such a project.

The parks committee has received a $3,487 quote from Tennis Universal of Ohio for materials to resurface township-owned tennis courts. Treasurer Nancy Kister reported that the committee will continue seeking vendors.

In other business, the board approved a new contract for assessor Richard Oliver, a resident of the township. He will be paid $27,360 for the upcoming year. Last year, Portage paid him $22,560.

Mrs. McDonald will attend a Michigan Townships Association legislative conference Wednesday, August 8, through Friday, August 10, in Bellaire, where officials will discuss a state proposal to redirect assessing and tax collection responsibilities from townships to counties.

"I think it is important that someone from our MTA chapter goes," she said.

She added that legislators have been quiet on the issue lately, but that the proposal could draw more support as the state's budget problems continue.

State Representative Paul Condino introduced a bill to transfer these powers from townships to counties, with the intent of reducing state expenditures. Mr. Condino reconsidered the idea in May after discussing, with State Representative Gary McDowell of Rudyard, how township governments work. The MTA argues that reducing township responsibilities would increase expenditures, rather than save the state money.

Mrs. Kister said she expects residents to complain about Michigan State Police vehicles that have been passing through Curtis at high speeds.

"You could end up killing somebody before you even get where you going," she said, adding that the drive-throughs are "very frightening" and have occurred when the village was very busy. Area ambulance drivers do not travel nearly as fast, she added. Mr. Kohvakka noted that the ambulance drivers stay within strict guidelines, even when en route to an emergency.

No action was taken regarding Mrs. Kister's concern.

The board approved the 2007/2008 municipal budget Thursday, June 28, with revenues projected at $633,230 for its general, road, fire, and ambulance funds. The taxable value of property in the township increased 1.037% over last year, said Mrs. McDonald.

The only new, major expenditure planned this year is the possible purchase of an ambulance, for which the board has budgeted $120,000. It will draw $84,535 from its equipment replacement fund if it can secure a grant to pay for the rest, Mrs. McDonald said. No grant source has been identified.

If a grant is not found, the township will have more money to apply toward a cash purchase of an ambulance next year, although rising equipment costs could continually put the purchase out of reach, Mrs. McDonald said.

The budget includes $227,300 for the general fund, which pays for salaries and operations, including buildings and grounds, public works, community and economic development projects, parks and recreation, insurance, and employee benefits.

Portage will spend the same amount this year as last year on salaries and compensation for township officers and employees, including $6,000 for trustees and deputies, $8,200 for the supervisor, $13,100 for the clerk, $800 for the board of review, $13,100 for the treasurer, and $28,460 for the assessor.

The township budgeted $65,265 for the fire department, $195,000 for roads, and $32,915 for Curtis Library.

The state budget problems could reduce the township's revenue sharing of $75,000, but the board will not know whether any financial alteration will be made until the state budget is adopted the end of September, Mrs. McDonald said. If state revenue sharing is lost, area park improvements are the first expenditures likely to be cut, she said.