Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Beacon seeks 800 percent increase from city of Hurley

By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

HURLEY — Beacon Ambulance is looking for an 800 percent increase in its contract with the city of Hurley.

Mayor Joseph Pinardi told the city council Tuesday there’s no way the city has money in its budget for a proposed increase from $5,231 to $46,710, or more than $41,000, retroactive to March 1.

“This is just a shock,” Pinardi said, adding that the $41,000 is basically the cost of a city employee.

Pinardi said the city could negotiate next year’s contract with Beacon, but doesn’t have the funds for such a large increase this year.

He...