Title
Resolution to Enter into an Interlocal Agreement Founding the Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Council, which will Create a Governmental Entity Pursuant to the Urban Cooperation Act of 1967, MCL 124.501
Memorandum
The current Washtenaw County fire service mutual aid agreement and technical response team is organized as a non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The technical response team owns significant assets and responds to complex incidents creating significant risk. All assets of the current organization will be transferred to this new entity, and the non-profit organization will be dissolved.
The purpose of this agreement is to establish the Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Council "WAMAC" to meet the needs of all Washtenaw County and nearby fire departments by providing for the purchase and ownership of equipment, property, buildings, and apparatus, payment of obligations and the hiring of necessary staff. Creating the governmental entity WAMAC pursuant to the Urban Cooperation Act ensures that the participating entities' activities are protected under governmental immunity principles. The activities and services to be provided shall include, but are not limited to, the joint ownership and operation of equipment, and the standardization of policies among the participating governmental units, which policies will afford and promote effective fire and rescue services within the governmental entities which are parties to this agreement.
Additionally, WAMAC shall oversee and be responsible for a Technical Rescue Team, a Swift Water Rescue Team, and any future specialized county fire rescue team (collectively, "Technical Response" team or teams) that is made up of shared public resources and which are public safety first responders. WAMAC can and may collect fees and donations to support specialized teams, conduct training and sponsor events, and will act as the fiduciary for the specialized teams, related training, and sponsoring...
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