Dexter council approves raising per-call payment to first responders to $30; township will contribute half

The Dexter City Council approved a motion on Jan. 5 to increase the per-call payment to each first responder from $25 to $30. The township informed the city it would no longer pay first responders directly but would provide a donation covering half the per-call cost; the clerk will issue payments to responders when the township donation is received.

Councilmember Diane O’Connor moved to approve the increase; Tim Taylor seconded. Councilmembers Casey Erwin and Christian Padilla abstained from the vote. Mayor Justin Forthun voted yea and the motion carried. During discussion, Padilla and Erwin said they do not perform the voluntary response work to receive payments, expressing concern about framing the payment as a wage rather than a voluntary contribution.

The clerk will process payments to first responders after receipt of the township donation; the council did not adopt a written policy at the meeting to govern responder payments.