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In addition, McKenzie Memorial Hospital, which operates Sanilac EMS, told officials from the two villages and three townships they are placing the ambulance permanently, not on a three month trial basis as originally planned.

The EMS will service Port Sanilac, Sanilac Township, Carsonville, and the portions of Washington and Bridgehampton that do not contract with another ambulance service.

"It seemed like the right thing to do. They need the service and we have the vehicle," stated McKenzie CEO Steve Barnett.

"Historically it has been paid for. (The Croswell EMS recently made it clear) if you are not going to pay, we won't go (on the run). We would never do that," Barnett emphasized.

When Sanilac Township declined to join the proposed Croswell area ambulance authority, the city notified the 911 coordinator not to dispatch Croswell EMS to the township because they had not paid for the service.

"We are going to do everything we can to provide that service, and not worry as much about the costs. Sometimes when you do the right thing, good things happen. Maybe when people are wondering where to seek health care services, they will consider us," Barnett added.

"We're excited," said William Noelke, supervisor of Sanilac Township.

Government officials have been trying to bring an ambulance back to the area since Marlette EMS left in January 2005 because they were not making enough money. It takes an ambulance 20 minutes to get to the lakeshore from Sandusky or Deckerville, which is where the other Sanilac EMS ambulances are based.

Barnett said when he met with Noelke and Township Trustee Renzie Milarch and Port Sanilac Council President Andy Fabian, it was obvious it would be difficult for the governments to pay for the service.

Last month Carsonville made the point, "if we can pay as we go. Then in the third month we could say we don't have the money, stop," Trustee Arnold Knaggs stated.

The hospital was going to charge a fee to the governments. Townships and villages had calculated a fee of $3.32 per capita would cover the cost.

Now the hospital's EMS service will be funded just on fees paid by insurance and patients.

The plan is to base the ambulance at the Carsonville Fire Hall, which was set up for an ambulance with quarters for the EMS when Marlette EMS served the area, and a location in Port Sanilac. Barnett said it will move back and forth between the two villages as other ambulances in the service as dispatched on runs.

However, they would like a station where the staff can relax and the ambulance can be in a heated garage to keep medicines from freezing in the winter in Port Sanilac.

"I am pretty confident someone will find some space that is comfortable and visible," Barnett added.

For now, the EMS will be located at the Port Sanilac Fire Hall, which has a restroom, tables and chairs and refrigerator, but no garage space.

The ambulance will be in the area from 6 a.m. Fridays through 12 a.m. Sunday, and from 6.30 a.m. through 12 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays.

"That would leave a 6-and-a-half hour gap from midnight to 6 a.m., which is a minimal time for runs," Noelke explained.