Milan mayor proposes backing out of regional fire authority
The city of Milan may withdraw from a regional fire authority that serves the city and three other nearby townships.
Mayor Kym Muckler - citing a lack of local control and an ability to provide better service with less bureaucracy - proposed pulling out of the Milan Area Fire Department agreement at Monday’s City Council meeting.
The fire authority includes London and Milan townships and part of York Township. It is governed by an executive board made up of two elected officials from each community.
Though fair in numbers, Muckler said the city’s representation is disproportionate to the funding level it provides. She said her citizens are paying too much for fire protection.
The city leases the fire department building, owns a share of the equipment, and pays portions of salaries for a chief, a few officers and about 30 paid-on call personnel.
“Right now we have very little influence, but pay the lion’s share of the cost,” said Muckler, noting roughly 42 percent of the department’s $600,000 budget comes from city coffers. “My vision is to truly own a fire department where we control our public safety.”
After some discussion, the matter was moved to a special work session before the next meeting on April 12. The council would have to approve pulling out of the authority and find other funding sources to maintain its current level of service.
It could be a tough sell, given the current economic conditions and the movement to regionalize public safety services across the state, said Council Member Michael Armitage.
“The state is really pushing for regionalizing services, and it seems we’re going in the opposite direction,” said Armitage, who said he learned about Muckler’s initiative from an angry citizen at a home and garden show in Saline over the weekend.
“It was a total bombshell to me . . . it makes sense that we have a cooperative fire department," he said.
Muckler, who serves on the authority’s executive board with City Council Member Joe Chapin, said she has pondered the move for a while. She announced her intentions to the other members of the fire authority at its meeting last Thursday.
She dedicated an entry on her personal blog to the topic Sunday, in which she suggested the city’s police chief could also oversee the fire department. Communities as large as Pittsfield Township and as small as Northfield Township have public safety departments.
Police Chief Jeff Lewis said Monday he had not yet read the mayor’s blog and did not know enough about the initiative to comment.
Muckler told executive board members and citizens the details of how the city would transition are pending. The city would have to incur the cost of fully staffing and equipping its own department.
The current contract allows for any participant to leave the agreement, but only after giving one year of notice. Buyout terms for co-owned equipment would have to be determined, said York Township Supervisor Joe Zurawski.
York receives fire service from Milan and the Saline Area Fire Department and would consider broadening its current agreement if Milan backed out, he added.
“It would cost a lot to start out on your own,” said Zurawski, who doesn’t sense a problem with the current board. “I don’t see it. Issues come up and we have to work through them, but at the end of the day there is a give and take.”
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
gmckeen
Fri, Apr 2, 2010 : 4:08 p.m.
@Lillian and Bikerbabe...you seem to think the fact that the fliers having been "unsigned" was an attempt for those involved to remain anonymous. Strangely enough, while I was only "one" person involved in passing them out, and definately not the one responsible...the chief of police called my home regarding the whole incident?...I had not known him prior, for that matter, I had never seen him before...my point?...If a man I'd never met before, not only found my name and phone number and "attached" them to the fliers...anyone else could have done the same!
Kym Muckler
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
FYI mayorkym.blogspot.com
Lillian
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 1:15 p.m.
Of course....
gmckeen
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
I have no knowledge of them being placed on cars! Those I worked with passing these out kept close record of the addresses that received the flyer. We wanted ALL to be aware of the actions of the mayor and chief. Passing them on cars would hardly give you an accurate record! You must be mistaken!
Lillian
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 11:40 a.m.
I had a flyer placed on my vehicle at Kroger, as did about 15 other cars. I spoke to no one, was not in agreement, and do not like ANYONE touching my vehicle. That isn't taking a stand, it is cowardace.
bikerbabe
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.
I got one of those unsigned fliers and didn't know what to think. It said, "take a stand," and stuff like that, but there was no name or phone number or anything on it. I stuck it in the recycle box.
gmckeen
Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.
"part of the problem"? according to whom, that's not hard to figure out!...the flyers were not signed because there was no need to "sign" them...they were hand delivered and those we spoke to agreed whole heartedly with the cause!! there were NO objections or negative comments made....
Lillian
Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 7:12 p.m.
I am curious, why would anyone send unsigned flyers if they were proud if what those flyers said or represented? And where is all this hatred coming from? I think we should let the process work for our community. Milan is a wonderful town, and we should be working together to find solutions, rather than looking for scapegoats and placing blame. Run for office if you don't like what is happening and be a legitimate part of the process, rather than a problem.
gmckeen
Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 2:48 p.m.
Written by amckeen:I say that's a GREAT idea. Lets take away some more jobs of people who have put "their" whole life into a job to raise and support "their" families. Raise the taxes so more families can lose "their" houses and become homeless. As far as the "UNSIGNED FLIERS" go, if someone asked me what my name was, I would tell them. We are in America, which is the land of "FREEDOM", right? Well, it sure isn't allowed here in Milan. I am NOT afraid to let people know who I am or what I stand up for. As "ALL" who have read about the Sgt. Casey situation, I have NEVER hide my identity, because I am standing up for what I believe is right!
gmckeen
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 6:26 p.m.
Afraid of change? I think not, Milan belongs to the people who live there, NOT to those who think they know whats best for all...perhaps some think too much of themselves and "thier way"...let the people of milan choose and get over it!
ProMilan
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 4:29 p.m.
It seems that people are always afraid of change. Why? Public Safety departments are now becoming the norm. Cross trained professionals serve a community in a much more efficient manner. Those that would keep the "old ways" are protecting something or someone. Time to move forward Milan, and at least look at the proposal.
bikerbabe
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 7:17 a.m.
ps i also watched the meeting when the council talked about this and it sounded like they were talking about public safety dept and keeping the same firefighters that are oncall with the fire dep they have now and training the police to be first repsonders which might make sense if they have more medical calls than fire calls. but I just dont think this is going to happen becuase I've lived here my entire life and i don't see the people here supporting that big of a change.
bikerbabe
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.
The latest Milan fire dep run report says the fire dept was dispatched 39 times in the past 6 wks. Guess how many of those fire calls were actual FIRE calls??? just 1 call, and it was a dumpster fire. I'm sure there is not gonna be enough support for this, but at least Muckler and the council are thinking of alternatives.
Concerned taxpayer
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 7:54 p.m.
As far as I know the police chief is not trained as a firefighter. How safe does that sound? As far as paying for it, I believe she said there is 2 million tucked away somewhere for this. Of course that money couldn't be put to use for our seniors, roads, budget, etc. Maybe that money would be better put to use for repairs to a fire station that is falling apart (although it is nice that it doesn't rain inside anymore). As far as the officers go, I don't think the mayor has a clue about what their job responsibilities are. Maybe she should have all the facts before big decisions are made. I am sure that us, the taxpayers, will foot the bill for all of this. Just what we need, our houses aren't worth crap but our taxes will sky rocket to pay for this "new" fire department that we don't need. I agree with Mr. Zurawski. Why is this all of the sudden a problem? Is this what happens when someone doesn't get their way? Everyone's going to pay?
jcj
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
Just curious. Does anyone know what percentage of runs made last year were in Milan?
Arbuckle
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 9:34 a.m.
I dont think the mayor fully understands what shes proposing. If the city currently contributes only 42 percent of an already struggling departments funding, what makes her think they can afford their own fully functional fire department? Certainly not on a $250,000 budget. And you cant just put a police chief in charge of a fire department if he knows nothing about running one. Well, I suppose you CAN but it would spell disaster. Sounds like this plan would end up costing more money and causing more grief in the long run.
MHS Parents
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 8:27 a.m.
This is why there are folks that should not lead any government. I am sure all of those Milanites that voted for ms. muckler are now having second as well as third thoughts. Mr. Zurawski is 100% correct with his comments. Be care of what you ask for ms. muckler, it may just come true.
Joe Zurawski
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 6:33 a.m.
As for the Mayor's concern regarding what she feels is the unfair disproportionate as compared to votes, the funding share is based on a five factor formula with "total Taxable Value" being weighted at 70%. Service area, Population, Miles of Roads, and number of buildings are the other factors. This formula and the voting has been in place and has worked well since the department was organized in March 1980. Now all of a sudden it is a problem?????
Joe Zurawski
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 6:27 a.m.
I was slightly mis-quoted. the buyout terms, should any of the members decide to leave, are spelled out very clearly in the agreement under which the department is organized. Basically, the leaving member would receive reimbursement for their share of the value of the equipment at the time they leave payable in five annual installments beginning one year after the effective date when they leave. How much is the city going to spend equipping a fire department in the interim and where are they going to get the money?
City Resident
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 1:13 a.m.
My concern is this.....Is the Milan Police Chief trained and qualified to lead a Fire Department? My understanding is that it takes hundreds of hours to get that certification and I have not heard that he has had that type of training. Does our mayor really think that our dedicated firefighters would be willing to take orders in a situation of life and death from a leader without the training to know what to do? I think Mayor Muckler is in over her head on this issue.