By James Windell
During the November 4, 2024 City Council Meeting, a new agreement was reached with South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES).
Approved unanimously by the City Council, the four-year agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2024.
SHAES, a joint fire and ambulance service authority, was launched on January 1, 1996, and provides services to the City of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven. The department operates out of three stations located at 90 Blue Star Memorial Highway, 864 66th Street, and 03000 64th Street. SHAES has a staff of 15 fulltime, and 37 paid-on-call members. SHAES responds to more than 2,000 calls annually.
Brandon Hinz has served as Executive Director and Fire Chief since 2020.
The new agreement with SHAES Authority covers a Dispatch Services Agreement, an Information Technology Services Agreement, and a Building Lease Agreement. Under the terms of the agreements, SHAES has agreed to pay the City of South Haven a monthly sum of $5,526 dollars for dispatch services. In subsequent years, SHAES’ fee will be compounded annually at a rate of 3% for each year of the four years of the agreement. The fee on July 1, 2025 will be $5,692, will increase to $5,863 on July 1, 2026, and will be $6,039 as of July 1, 2027.
As part of the terms of the Information Technology Services Agreement, the City of South Haven, will lease space to SHAES at 90 Blue Star Hwy, and, in addition, the city will continue to provide Information Technology (IT) services to SHAES. Also, the city will provide email and other computer systems and programs, will manage SHAES’ computers by controlling access to files and systems and otherwise implementing security measures, and will provide antivirus and malware protection for all devices connected to the city network.
Compensation to the City of South Haven for IT services will be $985.00 a month through July 1, 2025, after which the fee increases to $1,025 in the following year.
The Authority Board is the governing body of SHAES and is made up of representatives from the city of South Haven, South Haven Township, Casco Township, and Geneva Township. The board holds monthly public meetings. Current Authority Board members are Ross Stein, Chairman; Allan Overhiser, South Haven Township Vice-Chairman; Nancy Whaley, Casco Township Secretary-Treasurer; Kate Hosier, South Haven City Manager, and Annie Brown, City of South Haven Mayor.
