Lives may be saved if calls for emergency assistance west of the Brevort River go to nearby fire departments in both St. Ignace and Hendricks Township simultaneously, rather than to St. Ignace first, Hendricks Fire Chief Alfred Dyer told the Moran Township Board of Trustees Wednesday, June 3. The township board agreed with his suggestion, and the plan will now be sent to the county 911 dispatch board for approval.

Typically, when a fire is reported in the area west of the river, the report is forwarded to the St. Ignace Fire Department. Upon receiving the call, St. Ignace then contacts the Hendricks Township Fire Hall. This is a problem, Mr. Dyer said, because it creates a delay that could potentially cost lives.

While the Hendricks Fire Department is not contracted to cover any other accident in that area besides structure fires, Mr. Dyer is asking to broaden coverage to all incidents. St. Ignace or Engadine were normally responsible for responding to non-fire incidents.

Primary respondent status was originally granted to the St. Ignace Fire Department because it had more manpower and equipment than Hendricks two years ago, Moran Township Supervisor Jim Durm said.

Mr. Dyer requested the procedure be changed to maximize the response time to not only a fire call, but enable Hendircks to cover other accidents in that area.

"What I care about is taking care of my neighbors," he told The St. Ignace News.

It was suggested to the Moran Township board that the county 911 dispatch board contact St. Ignace and Hendricks simultaneously when a report is received west of the Brevort River. Hendricks could then arrive quickly, while St. Ignace would be on its way.

Mr. Dyer said it is essential that a change be made to protect lives. Time is critically important to aid those in accidents, he said, and asked the Moran Township board to make an effort on the hall's behalf to change the procedure.

Before a change in procedure can be made, the county 911 dispatch board must approve of the action.

The Moran Township board unanimously decided to send the request to the 911 board. Moran Township Clerk Kristine Vallier said the letter would ask, "all 911 calls in Moran Township north of the 3300 gridline and south of North 5400 gridline" to be directed to both the St. Ignace and Hendricks fire stations. The St. Ignace Fire Department would still retain primary respondent status, and Hendricks would relinquish command upon St. Ignace's arrival.

Mr. Dyer said he was satisfied with the board's decision.

Moran Township Continues

Work on Noise Ordinance

The township board continued its ongoing discussion of implementing a noise ordinance in Moran Township. The township does not have a noise ordinance and the board examined one used in Mackinaw City.

Mr. Durm stated he received several noise complaints, typically about businesses being too loud at night. Mr. Durm also said he is affected, as he owns apartments near a bar. The rooms closest to the bar are nearly impossible to rent out because of the noise, he said. He stayed in one of the rooms and was unable to sleep.

The board expressed concern about the enforcement of such an ordinance. Members said they doubt police would be able to respond to such complaints.

It was also noted that the township does not possess appropriate equipment to measure sound levels, necessary to enforce an ordinance. A suggestion made at an earlier meeting would be to ask the county sheriff to measure noise levels upon request.

Mr. Durm suggested one solution would be for residents to record the infractions as proof, and they could then pursue the complaint as a civil matter.

The board tabled the issue until its next meeting July 1, allowing time to study Mackinaw City's noise ordinance further. Trustee Mark Spencer noted a noise ordinance would require a public hearing before adoption.