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Topic: Flint subsidizing a for profit ? Universal ambulance
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Michigan Tax Tribunal - Fourth Quarter Decisions 2014
www.michigan.gov/taxtrib/0,4677,7-187-38250-342606--,00.html...

Tax Tribunal - ... 441223, South Haven Community Hospital Authority v City of South Haven. 10/3/2014 ... JF Ventures v Michigan Department of Treasury. 10/ 23/ ...


Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:19 am; edited 1 time in total
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 8:59 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

In this October 31, 2014 Tax tribunal decision, the nonprofit South Haven Community Hospital Authority were the lessors of property from an exempt entity and were using the property for legally defined public purposes. However, their subleasing a portion of the exempt property to for-profit businesses.

Under the agreement, The City of South Haven, as a Municipal Corporation,organized under Michigan law, was the owner of the exempt property. The City had binding lease agreements with the tenant for limited use of the space. They cited the General Property Tax Act -Act 206 of 1983 to indicate that any use of the property not expressly exempt would be subject to taxation. (MCL 211.1)

The tax question of the Flint Community Schools vs Mundy Township (docket # 316686 on June 19,2006) was examined. In this instance the occasional leasing of the Skill Center property allowed for unique educational opportunities and were not inconsistent with the districts primary purpose of education.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:19 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The final decision in South Haven was the facility was to be exempt for 92% of the facility . However, the 8% that was subleased to specialty physicians, chiropractors, etc, did not meet the standards of a public purpose.



Using ML 211.181(1): The Tribunal ruled:

"Except as provided in this section, if real property, exempt for any reason from ad valorem property taxation, is leased, loaned, or otherwise made available to and used by a private individual, association, or corporation in connection with a business conducted for profit, the lessee or user of the real property is subject to taxes in the same amount and to the same extent as though the lessee or user owned the real estate."
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:29 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

I am not lawyer, however I have several questions regarding the City lease of Fire station property to Universal Ambulance Service. For at least the last three years this for profit ambulance company has been leasing portions of two and now three fire stations in Flint. Where is the public service? They provide both basic and advanced levels EMS services and according to news stories are allowed to follow the fire trucks.

There are several ambulance services in Flint . The Medical Control Board theoretically has control over the dispatching , location, etc of ambulance companies. Is this lease agreement giving an unfair advantage to one company over another ? Other companies, such as Stat EMS have invested large amounts of funding in Flint, so how does this impact them?

Now Benson Ekong , owner of Universal EMS, located in Grand Blanc Township, appears to be involved in the creation of a hybrid nonprofit and for profit union.

Organization papers are pending with the Secretary of State Office . Universal Kidney Foundation, Universal health and Kidney, operates through grants and provides transportation for transportation for those unable to pay through Universal EMS.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:44 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Fire and Emergency Medical Services Operations and ... - City of ...
www.cityofflint.com/wp-content/uploads/CPSM-Flint-Fi...

... Association. Center for Public Safety Management. FIRE. EMS. Operational Analysis ... Fire-EMS Operations and Data Analysis, Flint, Michigan page ii .
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:00 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Alternative EMS Service Delivery Models (page 57)

The provision of emergency medical services is generally a responsibility of local government. However, the utilization of private providers for ambulance services is a well-established practice in the city of Flint. As mentioned above, there are several private ambulance providers currently operating in and around the city. Because there are no ambulances positioned by agreement or contract in the city, there is no performance guarantee an ambulance will arrive for treatment and transport in a reasonable or agreed upon time. This is an ineffective and uncertain delivery of a critical community service. The FFD is attempting to establish a fixed base for private ambulances in the city through an agreement to utilize current fire stations as posting locations. As of the CPSM staff on
-site visit, there were no agreements in place to implement this program. CPSM recommends the city enter into performance-based contractual agreements with one or more private EMS agencies for the delivery of EMS and EMS transport services in the city of Flint. CPSM further recommends a
competitive, closed-bid process be established so that the city may
realize the best economic and performance advantage. The request for proposal process for EMS and EMS transport services should establish expectations for clinical excellence and system performance. It may be in the city’s best interest to seek outside assistance in the development of a high-performance performance-based solicitation and contract. In other words, the city should establish service levels commensurate with community expectations. Finally, if the city is desirous of this alternative, the city is encouraged to discuss with neighboring jurisdictions the potential advantages of a countywide or regional approach to ambulance service


Last edited by untanglingwebs on Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:18 am; edited 1 time in total
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:08 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

page 56

Emergency Medical Services
The FFD responds to Tier 1 EMS calls for service only. Tier 1 responses are classified as the most critical of EMS calls. The FFD provides basic life support (BLS) services. Fire operations personnel are trained to the medical first responder level. All fire operations apparatus carry automated
external defibrillators (AEDs), as well as basic first aid and splinting equipment. The FFD operates under the Genesee County medical control system and has an agreement with Dr. Peter Stoyanoff to serve as the FFD’s medical director. EMS transport in the city of Flint is handled by a myriad of a private ambulance services. These include Mobile Medical Response, Pro Med, Regional EMS, Universal Ambulance, STAT EMS, Swartz
Ambulance, and Patriot Ambulance Service. When a transport is needed,the emergency communications center notifies the next available service through means of a call-down list There is inefficiency in the notification and response of EMS transport units since the communications center does not know the location of available transport units and therefore may not be contacting the closest unit/agency for response.The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department has mobile paramedic units that are dynamically deployed and respond to high-priority/life-threatening EMS calls. There is a
county millage tax to support EMS, which Flint does not directly receive in the form of funding.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:17 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Expanded ambulance service coming to Flint
By Randy Conat |
Posted: Fri 6:06 PM, Jan 15, 2016 |
Updated: Fri 6:14 PM, Jan 15, 2016

FLINT (WJRT) - (01/15/16) - A Mid-Michigan ambulance company is expanding so it will be able to respond more quickly to the needs of its patients.

For the past few years, Universal EMS has stationed its ambulances at two Flint fire stations. Now, it's adding Flint Fire Station Number One - a very busy spot.

Universal EMS officially began offering ambulance service with a ribbon cutting at the downtown Flint fire station. The company will occupy a bay and living quarters for four people. It will provide emergency transport services and assist the Flint Fire Department with medical emergencies.

Universal EMS believes it will be able to cut response time if its ambulance follows fire trucks to the scene.

"People were suffering and not getting the critical care they needed as soon as they could get it," said Judy Ekong, Universal EMS vice president.

"When the fire bell sounds and there's an emergency and the fire truck is on the road, we are behind it," said Benson Ekong, Universal EMS president.

While that ambulance is responding, another Universal EMS rig will relocate to Fire Station Number One
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:22 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The FFD is attempting to establish a fixed base for private ambulances in the city through an agreement to utilize current fire stations as posting locations. As of the CPSM staff on-site visit, there were no agreements in place to implement this program. CPSM recommends the city enter into performance-based contractual agreements with one or more private EMS agencies for the delivery of EMS and EMS transport services in the city of Flint. CPSM further recommends a competitive, closed-bid process be established so that the city may realize the best economic and performance advantage.
_________________________________________________________________--

In the December 2014 evaluation of the Flint Fire Department, the consultant noted there were no agreements in place for private ambulance companies in Flint Fire Stations. To me that means no bids and EM Darnell Early and the state just cut a deal.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:28 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

PDF]December 19, 2013 Sam L. McLaren McGladwin ... - State of Michigan
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/taxes/12-16-13_CRE_Certificates_464163_7.pdf
Dec 19, 2013 - The State Tax Commission at their December 16, 2013 meeting ...... is certificate number C2013-016, issued to Metro Medical Ambulance,.





RICK SNYDER
GOVERNOR
STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
LANSING
R. KEVIN CLINTON
STATE TREASURER

December 19, 2013

Benson Ekong
Metro Medical Ambulance, LLC
4199 Davison Road
Burton, MI 48509

Dear Mr. Ekong:
The State Tax Commission at their December 16, 2013 meeting considered and approved your application for a commercial rehabilitation project, in accordance with Public Act 210 of 2005, as amended. Enclosed is certificate number C2013-016, issued to Metro Medical Ambulance,LLC for the project located at 5928 Clio Road, City of Flint, Genesee County.

If you have any questions regarding this exemption please contact the Property Services Division
at (517) 373-0675.
Sincerely,
Kelli Sobel, Executive Director
State Tax Commission
Enclosure
By Certified Mail
cc: William E. Fowler, Assessor, City of Flint
Clerk, City of Flint Mich
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 12:32 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The approved Commercial Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate was for 5928 Clio Road. and Metro Medical Ambulance, llc dba Universal EMS and owned by Benson Ekong.

The certificate, issued under the authority of PA 210 of 2005, allowed the Flint assessor to exempt the commercial structure, but not the land or personal property, from ad valorem taxes. However, a special Commercial Rehabilitation tax would be levied. This exemption was to be in effect for 10 years, from December 31, 2013 to december 30, 2023'

The real property investment amount $3,500,000 and the frozen value of the real property is $101,2000.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 12:52 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

On June 3 , 2008 The Flint Journal wrote a story, Nigerian Benson Ekong heads up Universal EMS. Shown was the bay of his building at 4199 Davison Rd. Burton. The article focused on how it took 3 years for him to get his ambulance company off the ground in Genesee County.

By October 25, 2013 the Flint Journal was touting Ekong's proposal to move his ambulance company from Burton to 5829 Clio Road on property he owned. This property had been a car sales business and later Bell's Warehousing and Manufacturing.
This was the first time in a decade that aa application for a Commercial Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate had been applied for in Flint.

For a short time the building contained Total Fitness Center, owned by bodybuilder and social activist keith Darrough.

To the best of my knowledge, the property stays vacant and untouched.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 1:25 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Benson Ekong is shown as the Registered agent for these five corpoations. All are shown as active but not in good standing since 2-24-2014.


Entity Name ID Number
Type

METRO MEDICAL AMBULANCE - GENESEE, LLC
D58789 Limited Liability Company

METRO MEDICAL AMBULANCE - MACOMB LLC
D27877 Limited Liability Company

METRO MEDICAL AMBULANCE - OAKLAND LLC
D27876 Limited Liability Company

METRO MEDICAL AMBULANCE - WAYNE LLC
D27878 Limited Liability Company

METRO MEDICAL AMBULANCE LLC.
D2671D Limited Liability Company
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 1:31 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

All an be found on LARA Corporations business entity search.

All are registered to 4199 Davison Road with Benson Ekong as the registered agent.

D27877 was incorporated on 5-19-2009.
D58789 was incorporated on 5-5-2011
D27876 was incorporated on 12-22-2011
D27878 was incorporated on 12-22-2011
D2671D was incorporated on 12-22-2011

Besides the initial incorporation documents,there are no annual reports.

In most of the companies there was a change of registered agent from Benson Ekong to Tamer AFR at 26300 Teleraph Road, Southfield in 2009 and a switch back in 2011.
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 2:13 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Searched for: GENESIS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM INC.

ID Num: 38076C


Entity Name: GENESIS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES INC.
Type of Entity: Domestic Profit Corporation

Resident Agent: BENSON EKONG
Registered Office Address: 4199 DAVISON ROAD BURTON MI 48509

Mailing Address: 4199 DAVISON ROAD BURTON MI 48509

Formed Under Act Number(s): 284-1972

Incorporation/Qualification Date: 6-13-2002

Jurisdiction of Origin: MICHIGAN

Number of Shares: 60,000

Year of Most Recent Annual Report: 10

Year of Most Recent Annual Report With Officers & Directors: 08
Status: AUTOMATIC DISSOLUTION Date: 7-15-2011
Post Sun Nov 27, 2016 2:25 pm 
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