Mike Fandel can take the “acting” part off his title as the new Leland Township Fire and Rescue Department chief following action taken by the Township Board Monday.

At its rescheduled meeting Monday, the Leland Township Board unanimously approved a recommendation from the township fire board to hire Fandel as the township's first full-time chief. Fandel has been working as “acting” chief on an as-needed basis since November 2007. He had received an hourly rate of $20. As the full-time department chief, Fandel will receive an annual salary of $55,000, plus benefits.

Supervisor Harry Larkin said he has attended most fire board meetings, and was present Thursday night when the board made its recommendation. “They were very happy to make Mike the regular chief as he has been doing the job for the last year and a half,” Larkin said.

When Fandel was appointed to the acting chief position, the Leland department was is disarray with low membership numbers. Since then Fandel, working with the fire board and current firefighters and officers, was able to establish a reliable Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulance system that includes having two full-time firefighter/EMTs at the Leland fire hall during the day Monday through Friday. Membership numbers have gone up since November 2007, and Fandel said Monday the department is continuing to focus on improving the certification and training of each member and improve the professionalism of the members.
MIKE FANDEL poses next to a fire truck after learning he would become the new Leland Township Fire and Rescue Department chief.
“The guys have made a huge commitment to making Leland Township Fire and Rescue one of the best departments in the county,” he said.

Fandel will still continue to run his company, Galiant Business Solutions, from his home in Lake Leelanau. With membership numbers up and the department having recently purchased and revamped a boat for water and ice rescue, Fandel said the biggest challenge the department faces is making a recommendation concerning the location and number of fire stations. The township fire board continues to investigate that matter and Fandel said he does not expect a recommendation from the board on that matter for at least a couple of months.

“The training we’re doing with the boat, we trained with the Coast Guard at the Lake Leelanau Narrows last week, is fantastic. The guys are really doing well,” he said.

Go to www.lelandtownshipfiredepartment.com to learn more about the fire and rescue department.