Lake Charlevoix EMS helped by passage of Senate Bill 821

CHARLEVOIX — Roy Griffitts, chairman of the newly formed Lake Charlevoix EMS Authority, announced this week that Sen. Wayne Schmidt of Traverse City helped the local emergency ambulance service through recent passage of a new senate bill.

Schmidt sponsored a bill that will allow emergency services to borrow money and issue negotiable bonds or notes to finance acquisitions, construction, furnishing buildings or facilities and acquire necessary property and the purchase of necessary equipment.

Representative Gary Howell of Lapeer who worked to get the bill passed in the House of Representatives assisted Schmidt.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill into law on June 15.

“We could not be more pleased,” said Griffitts. “The passage of this bill and the signing by our governor attests to the fact that parties can reach across the aisle and come to agreement on important issues.”

Act No. 102 of Public Acts 2022 amends Public Act 57 of 1988, which allows municipalities to incorporate authorities for the provision of emergency services.

Most importantly, the passage of the bill will have no fiscal impact on the state and no fiscal impact on local governments other than eligible authorities, according to Griffits.

Bill Gnodtke, a Lake Charlevoix EMS Authority board member who represents Norwood, worked with Schmidt to ensure the bill's passage and the signing by Whitmer.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Lake Charlevoix EMS helps assist in passage of senate bill