BENTON TOWNSHIP — After months of contract negotiations, Medic 1 Ambulance has agreed to expand its services to five municipalities in northern Berrien County.

According to a five-year contract that began Saturday, the expansion includes Coloma, Watervliet, Coloma Township, Hagar Township and Watervliet Township. The move is expected to accommodate about 15,000 residents in the county.

In the initial phase, a single 24/7 ambulance will be stationed at North Berrien Fire Rescue Station 1, 170 Washington St., near downtown Coloma. The second phase will introduce another 24/7 ambulance adjacent to Watervliet Township Hall at 4959 M-140 north of the city of Watervliet. Once the second phase begins, the first ambulance will be relocated from Coloma to the North Berrien Fire Rescue Department, 3061 Coloma Road, Riverside in Hagar Township.

This carefully planned relocation ensures optimal coverage and accessibility throughout the expanded service area,” said Jason Wiley, executive director of Medic 1 Ambulance.

Medic 1 announced that it plans to have both ambulances to be operational by January 2024. However, under contract terms, the emergency medical service has nine months from the initial start date to have bother vehicles fully functional.

Medic 1 coverage costs

Below is the annual cost the five municipalities will pay toward Medic 1 Ambulance for emergency services. However, the full amount won’t be charged until there are two full-time ambulances in rotation in the northern part of the county.

The totals are based on the $27.61 subsidy charge for 2020 U.S. Census population numbers.

* Coloma: $40,463.30

* Coloma Township: $139,508.62

* Hagar Township: $89,571.66

* Watervliet: $46,097.78

* Watervliet Township: $83,854.32

The five-year contract, which runs through June 30, 2028, includes an automatic renewal clause. However, if at least three municipalities indicate six months before the end of the agreement that they do not intent to renew, the clause will not be enacted.

“This expansion has been in the works for quite some time, and I am excited to be able to finish what was started many months ago when talks of this expansion first took place,” Wiley said. “It has taken a lot of time and effort by all parties involved, and we have had nothing but support from the municipal leaders of these areas.”

Medic 1 is charging each municipality by a rate of $27.62 per person, based on population totals in the 2020 U.S. Census.

Based on the contract, the city of Coloma will pay $40,463.30, the city of Watervliet will pay $46,097.78, Coloma Township will pay $139,508.62, Hagar Township will pay $89,571.66 and Watervliet Township will pay $83,854.32 on an annual basis. Collectively, the five municipalities will pay nearly $400,000 a year for Medic 1 services.

Each municipality can attend the Medic 1 monthly board meeting as a non-voting member. After three years, the municipalities may begin the process of becoming board members.