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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac City Council moved to approve an updated Joint Ambulance Services Agreement with Pokagon Township, Silver Creek Township, Volinia Township, and Wayne Township during Monday’s meeting at city hall.

As the Cass/Van Buren Emergency Services Authority has progressed towards long-term solutions to ambulance response issues since the abrupt closure of Pride Care in August 2023, it became clear to officials that

According to city officials, the decision to update the agreement was made to meet the new market realities. Keeler Township, due to their location in Van Buren County, had ambulance services available through VBEMS who only provide services in that county. Additionally, the original 2008 agreement was based on a premise that financial subsidies for ambulance services would not be necessary. 

 The market environment for ambulance services has also changed over the past several years. Hiring and keeping trained and licensed ambulance personnel has been a challenge, wages have risen dramatically and training has intensified. Vehicle costs have risen at rates well above normal inflationary expectations.The updated agreement spells out how contracts can be executed and finance of contracts can be mutually agreed upon. 

The key terms of the agreement are as follows: 

1. Each community shall appoint one person to serve on the board. 
2. Each governing body gets to review and act on an ambulance contract. 
3. Annual budgets will be presented to governing bodies. 
4. Costs will be shared based on a formula of a.) 1/3rd of the cost will be based on taxable values b.) 1/3rd of the cost will be based on census/population values c.) 1/3rd of the cost will be shared equally by each local unit of government
5. The authority will not have the power to levy taxes. 
6. Each municipality will pay its share by whatever means it deems appropriate.

In 2008, the City of Dowagiac and surrounding townships formed the CVBESA in an effort to share costs and improve the ambulance services response to our area. From 2008 until mid-August 2023 the city and surrounding townships were served round the clock by Pride Care, a service that provided full Advanced Life Support services to CVBESA communities. These services were provided without any tax subsidy to residents. 

However, in mid-August 2023 Pride Care abruptly, and with no notice, was shut down. Both the CVBESA and the Central Cass Ambulance Authority were left with no ambulance service. This action has caused both the CVBESA and the CCAA to develop an interim action plan to provide services while working toward a longer term solution. 

Since September 2023, CVBESA and Cassopolis have contracted with the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service to provide one fully staffed ALS vehicle to Dowagiac while working through the details of expanding to a second similarly staffed ALS vehicle as quickly as practical. One of the two vehicles would be located in the city owned ambulance building on the corner of Pokagon Street and Enterprise Drive. 

SMCAS is a non-profit, municipally-owned and operated advanced life support ambulance service that has provided 24/7 emergency response in Southwest Michigan since 1976, serving residents within the Cities of Buchanan and Niles, as well as Buchanan, Niles, Howard, Bertrand, Milton and a portion of Pokagon Township.