SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – More than 57 years of service to the Upper Peninsula’s Superior Township came to an abrupt end recently when Superior Township firefighter Ron Mills walked away from the fire department after the township board voted 4-0 to fire Chief Amy Jere.

The SooLeader reports that Mills as well as the rest of the volunteer firefighters quit in solidarity with their Chief after Supervisor Richard Phillips, Treasurer Susanne Kniskern, Clerk Mary Jo Harris, and Trustee John Waisanen got rid of of Jere at a special meeting last Friday in Brimley.

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Trustee Paul Fox, an 11-year Superior Township board member and 30-year active member of the fire department didn’t attend the special meeting but will be quitting both positions, standing by his Chief and the rest of the crew. He said, “It is a dirty shame. Amy was one of the best things that has ever happened to Superior Township. She is a real go-getter. Now, we have lost every fire fighter we’ve got.”

Jere was accused of spending $4126.20 without permission for equipment that needed to be updated so it was in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). Jere said, “We should not have PPE that is 26-years-old. Our helmets are 26-years-old. I am in violation of MIOSHA law by knowingly allowing my firefighters to be in this gear. My crew, we are a family.”

In explaining how much money she had brought into the department over the years. Jere said, “In my five years of being the fire chief, I got a $5,000 TransCanada grant. My second year I got a $25,000 TransCanada grant for Superior Township. I got a $5,000 DNR grant. I had a $50,000 truck donated by the US Forrest Service to fight wild land fires. I had a local business owner do $12,000 custom paint job for Superior Township. This year, alone, I got a $15,000 TransCanada; I got a $5,000 DNR grant; I got almost $9,000 from Sault Tribe; and Bay Mills Indian Community… when our township voted for only four of 14 members to have turnout gear… they stepped up and gave us a $30,000 check to put our fire personnel in the proper PPE equipment. We should not have to go through this.”

The other issue brought up by the township was an allegation that Jere assigned a locker with gear to a potential hire, Michael Greene, who wasn’t approved to be a firefighter yet and that permission for him to attend departmental trainings had not been authorized.

Treasurer Kniskern said, “We wouldn’t want anyone who has not technically, officially been placed on the fire department to be out doing official business of any capacity, whether it is just going inside of the fire hall.”

Frank Toms, who is a former chief, went to the meeting to support Jere. He said, “Amy is following the same practices we have been following for years. We never had to do any of this before under Mr. Phillips, who was the township supervisor. When we found someone qualified to be on the department, we would put them on to make sure they fit in with our crew. Then, we would take it to the board and they would OK it…”

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At the special meeting, Greene was not approved by the township board, but the other applicant, Jeremy Spencer was. Of the decision, Jere said, “Mr. Spencer was asked, in advance, if he wanted to be chief…I knew this day was coming.”

Jere posted on her personal Facebook page after she was fired and said, “I am humbled and overwhelmed by the support from Fire Chiefs from around the UP and Lower Michigan as well as all the fire personnel both career and volunteer. Thank you all for reaching out! I want to thank my fire personnel for dedicating your lives to the safety of OUR community I couldn’t be prouder of all of you and the department we had become. WE ARE FAMILY!”

Now that the 1,047 residents in the township are without local fire protection, mutual-aid volunteer fire departments from Dafter and Bay Mills will be responding to fires in Superior Township.